Trump says he’s ‘very jealous’ as King Charles’ Congress speech draws applause

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump praised King Charles III’s speech, which drew a prolonged standing ovation in Congress, noting that he was ‘very jealous’.

The 79-year-old president, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, on Tuesday, April 28, rolled out the red carpet and welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to a lavish state dinner at the White House.

Before making their way into the White House for dinner, Trump hailed King Charles III’s earlier speech to Congress, saying, “he made a great speech. I was very jealous.”

Trump praises King Charles for making Democrats stand

Trump’s appreciation for King Charles did not stop at the door, as his praise for the speech continued inside the White House after they took their places at the head table and the toast portion of the dinner began.

Kicking off the dinner, he said, "I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress.”

Trump also joked that the king was able to bring Democrats to their feet during his joint address, an applause, he noted, he has never quite managed himself.

“He got the Democrats to stand. I’ve never been able to do that. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe it,” the president said.

“They liked him more than they’ve ever liked any Republican or Democrat, actually.”

At the dinner, beyond the guests of honour, the king and queen, Trump and Melania were joined by several other high-profile attendees, including Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, Rory McIlroy and Erica McIlroy, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner.

Lindsey Graham, Mike Pence praise King Charles speech

King Charles III’s historic speech not only drew praise from Donald Trump but also from several senators and lawmakers, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, who called it a “much-needed morale booster.”

“Simply put: The King nailed it,” Graham wrote. “The speech was a terrific combo of wit, humor, history and appreciation. I believe most members of Congress feel better after the speech than they did before. Though I will admit it was a bit odd that the unifying feeling had to come from the King of England… but so be it!”

Former Vice President Mike Pence also applauded the speech, describing it as 'inspiring'. “His affirmation of our shared values and history was just the right message to reaffirm the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom,” Pence said in a post on social media. “Well Done Your Majesty!”

King Charles pushes unity, highlights UK-US alliance

The king, on Tuesday, used his historic address to the US Congress to highlight NATO’s vital role and the importance of the UK-US partnership.

With a 20-minute speech to lawmakers that triggered a loud and sustained round of applause, Charles became the first British king, and only the second British monarch, to address a joint session, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

At the Capitol, the king warned that the two nations must stand together in this "more volatile, more dangerous" era. "We meet in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East, which pose immense challenges," he told the chamber, filled with US lawmakers.

Charles also referenced the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US, when Article 5 of NATO was invoked for the first time, to suggest that Ukraine still needed defending.

“That same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defence of Ukraine and her most courageous people in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace,” he said, to applause.

The king also used the speech to condemn the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of country,” he said.