Rod Stewart awkwardly praises King Charles’ US visit: ‘You put that little rat bag in his place’
LONDON, ENGLAND: Musician Rod Stewart drew attention during 'The King’s Trust 50th Anniversary Celebration' at Royal Albert Hall on Monday, May 11, after publicly praising King Charles III and making a candid remark about the monarch’s recent visit to the United States.
The celebration honored young people supported by the trust since it was established in 1976 while also bringing together several well-known figures, including Rita Ora, Craig David, Anne-Marie, and Jools Holland, who attended the high-profile event.
Rod Stewart praises King Charles after US visit
During a receiving line at the event, Stewart congratulated the King on his recent four-day state visit to the US. According to videos and reports from the gathering, he told Charles, “May I say, well done in the Americas. You were superb. Absolutely superb. You put that little rat bag in his place.”
Observers interpreted the remark as a reference to Donald Trump. Reports noted that Charles did not directly respond to the statement, though people nearby appeared to laugh, while Ronnie Wood, who stood nearby during the exchange, was also seen smiling.
Stewart reportedly continued by saying, “Exactly, that’s it, it went right over his head.”
He later turned to Queen Camilla and praised the King further, saying he was congratulating him on the “wonderful performance in the Americas,” describing him as “so great, so brave, so proud.”
Stewart and Trump were once known to share a friendly relationship while living near each other in Florida.
However, the 'Forever Young' singer told Radio Times last year that he no longer considered Trump a friend, citing concerns over his administration’s arms sales to Israel.
“How’s that [Gaza] war ever gonna stop?” Stewart said, before adding, “He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that. But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well. But since he became president, he became another guy. Somebody I didn’t know.”
King Charles’ US speech earns widespread praise
Charles was not the only one to receive praise for his visit to the US, as the monarch’s historic address to a joint session of Congress, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was widely commended.
During the speech, the King blended humor with historical reflection, telling lawmakers, “King George never set foot in America and, please rest assured, I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action!”
He continued, “The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause,” before adding, “Two hundred and fifty years ago, or, as we say in the United Kingdom, 'just the other day', they declared independence.”
The monarch also addressed the serious global climate surrounding his visit, which came amid the war in Iran and just days after the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting, describing the present period as “more volatile and more dangerous” than when his mother visited the US in 1991.
Stressing the importance of international cooperation, he said, “The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone,” before adding, “But in this unpredictable environment, our alliance cannot rest on past achievements, or assume that foundational principles simply endure."
He further said, "As my prime minister said last month, 'Ours is an indispensable partnership. We must not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last 80 years. Instead, we must build on it.”
