Donald Trump has been treated well in his historic second state visit to the UK, but a bizarre comment in his banquet speech has left people baffled.
The US president arrived in the UK on Tuesday evening alongside Melania, although some members of the British public weren’t particularly welcoming, projecting images of the president with Jeffrey Epstein on the side of Windsor Castle.
Trump has become the first politician to enjoy two separate state visits and on Wednesday he was treated to the State Banquet inside the castle alongside the royal family, Keir Starmer, and big names from the tech industry including Apple’s Tim Cook and Open AI’s Sam Altman.
Although the 79-year-old managed to break major royal etiquette in the first few moments of arriving, and not for the first time, it seems as if the ‘special relationship’ between the UK and the US is as strong as ever.
The illustrious banquet was held last night at Windsor Castle (DOUG MILLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
During his speech at last night’s banquet, which featured a French menu and some vintage wines, Trump spoke about his love for the UK.
He said: “This is truly one of the highest honours of my life, such respect for you and such respect for your country.”
However, the president has been accused of often spouting ‘word salad‘ in the past, and he seemed to go down that route again last night as he added: “It’s a singular privilege to be the first American president welcomed here [twice]. And if you think about it, it’s a lot of presidents, and this was the second state visit. That’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time. I hope it is actually.”
His final words got a laugh from the audience, although his joke is certainly open to interpretation. You would hope that he isn’t suggesting he never wants to return to the UK, especially after the generous spread that was put out for him.
Not quite sure what you mean by that Donald (Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The 79-year-old has previously suggested that he is not joking about potentially running for a third term as president, despite the amendment prohibiting anyone from being elected three times, so perhaps he has come to terms with his time in the Oval Office ending in 2028.
Trump went on to mention Britain’s defeat of Napoleon and the Magna Carta in his speech, whereas King Charles III focused more on current issues such as Ukraine and the environment.
He said: “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace.
“Today, our alliance spans every field of endeavour and shows vast potential for growth.
“The United Kingdom was your partner in the first trade deal of your administration, Mr President, bringing jobs and growth to both our countries.
“And no doubt we can go even further as we build this new era of our partnership.”
Featured Image Credit: Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, Royal Family
