Queen Elizabeth II once made a witty remark about Donald Trump during his first term as US President.
Although Trump was recently sworn in again as the 47th President, his initial time in office spanned from 2017 to 2021.
Traditionally, members of the British royal family stay neutral on political matters and avoid sharing their personal views. However, back in 2018, during a lighthearted moment with Sir David Attenborough, the late Queen let slip a playful comment about Trump.
While filming an ITV documentary in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, a helicopter interrupted their conversation. As the aircraft hovered noisily overhead, the Queen remarked, “Why do they go round and round when you want to talk?” Then, with a chuckle, she added: “Sounds like President Trump, or President Obama.”
In more recent developments, King Charles has extended an invitation to Trump for a second state visit. During a visit to the White House last month, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally delivered the invitation to the President.
Starmer praised Trump’s previous visit as a “tremendous success,” while Trump responded that returning to the UK would be an “honour.”
This invitation coincides with Trump’s announcement of new trade measures under what he’s calling “Liberation Day” tariffs. The policy involves a sweeping list of reciprocal tariffs set to affect multiple countries.
Unveiling the plan, Trump declared: “We’ve been waiting for a long time. April 2, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn, the day America’s destiny was reclaimed, and the day that we began to ‘Make America Wealthy Again’.”
He continued, “For years, hard-working American citizens were forced to sit on the sidelines as other nations got rich and powerful, much of it at our expense. But now it’s our turn to prosper.”
Calling it the beginning of a “golden age of America,” Trump stated, “It’s coming back.”
For context, tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods, meaning that American companies purchasing those goods from abroad will bear the cost of the new taxes.
Following the announcement, global stock markets reacted sharply, triggering concern. But Trump urged Americans to remain calm and firm.
“The United States has a chance to do something that should have been done DECADES AGO. Don’t be Weak! Don’t be Stupid! Don’t be a PANICAN (A new party based on Weak and Stupid people!),” he wrote.
“Be Strong, Courageous, and Patient, and GREATNESS will be the result!” he concluded.