The most quotable moment of King Charles’s state visit to the United States came during the White House state dinner on Tuesday April 29. The King turned one of Donald Trump’s own comments against him, to laughter and applause from the room, including from Trump himself.
Charles referenced a remark Trump had made at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year. Trump had argued that without the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Charles picked it up and redirected it.
He said: “This said, our French friends can feel equally at home with a glance at a map. Indeed, you recently commented, Mr President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French?”
The comment drew laughter from the room. Trump himself was seen laughing at the line. As a descendant of King George III, Charles had framed the remark within a broader speech about the deep historical ties between Britain and America.
French President Emmanuel Macron saw the clip and responded publicly. He posted it on social media with the words: “That would be chic!”
The interaction spread rapidly online. Social media users described Macron’s response as savage. Others called it elegant retaliation after months of friction between Paris and Washington.
Macron and Trump have had a difficult relationship since Trump returned to the White House. Trump has described Macron as “publicity-seeking” and claimed he “always gets it wrong.” In April, Trump referenced a video of Brigitte Macron appearing to shove her husband while disembarking a plane in Vietnam. He said: “I call up France, Macron, whose wife treats him extremely badly. Still recovering from the right to the jaw.”
Macron responded to those remarks at the time by calling them “neither elegant nor up to standard.” His King Charles repost represents a lighter form of the same counter-punch.
Charles’s speech also referenced American place names with British origins, including the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland. He said: “As the direct descendant of King George III, I know this is a nation that never gives up.”
The state visit was Charles’s first to the United States as monarch. He and Queen Camilla continued to New York City the following day before concluding the tour in Virginia.
Ewan is a reporter at the Foreign Policy Journal, primarily covering US current affairs and news related to NYSE-listed stocks. He has over two decades of experience in journalism and digital publishing.
