President Donald Trump touted the defense relationship between the United States and United Kingdom in his remarks at the state dinner, saying that the two nations share “unconquerable courage.”
He claimed the king supported his effort to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, although the U.K. has publicly refused to provide full military support for the U.S. and Israeli operation against Iran.
“From the trenches of World War I to the beaches of Normandy, from the frozen hills of Korea to the scorching sands of North Africa and the Middle East, and we’re doing a little Middle East work right now,” Trump said. “And we’re never going to let that opponent ever — Charles agrees with me, even more than I do — we’re never going let that opponent have a nuclear weapon. Our countries have stood together, defiant, triumphant against the forces of communism, fascism and tyranny.”
“History has known no more powerful force than the combination of American patriotism and British pride,” he added.
He said it’s “only natural” to begin the 250th anniversary celebration of American independence with a tribute to the U.K., while noting that the U.S.-U.K. relationship has grown into a unique friendship since 1776.
“The same audacity that called a small island kingdom to rule the seven seas, and rule them you did, inspired the children of 13 American colonies to explore a great frontier and a very, very dangerous frontier, and settle what was known as the wild, wild West,” Trump said.
The president called the king’s speech to Congress “fantastic,” despite the pointed comments Charles made about NATO’s Article 5 and the Magna Carta.
