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Donald Trump has claimed that King Charles "would have probably helped" America's military campaign against Iran, suggesting the monarch would have supported the offensive if the decision had been his to make. The US President delivered these remarks from the Oval Office after the King addressed Congress, where Charles made the case for robust Nato support and continued assistance to Ukraine, positions that have drawn criticism from Mr Trump. "The King is fantastic. We spent a lot of time together. We had a lot of talk. We talked about this also, and he loves his country, and he's a great king, and he's a great friend of mine," Mr Trump said. "And I think if he were doing that, if that were up to him, he would have probably helped us with Iran." Mr Trump continued his effusive praise for the monarch, describing him as "a phenomenal representative for his country" and declaring that British citizens ought to feel proud of their sovereign. The President's comments came amid ongoing tensions between Washington and London over the UK's refusal to participate in strikes against Tehran. Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir Starmer, labelling the Prime Minister as weak and lacking decisiveness for not joining the military action. The warm words for Charles stood in stark contrast to Mr Trump's attacks on the British Government, appearing to draw a distinction between the King and the elected leadership. The President emphasised the personal connection he had forged with Charles during their extensive discussions throughout the state visit. During a white-tie state banquet on Tuesday, Mr Trump went further by publicly claiming that Charles shared his view on the necessity of blocking Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Breaking with the convention that conversations with the monarch remain confidential, the president told guests: "We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we're never going to let that opponent ever Charles agrees with me, even more than I do we're never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon." Buckingham Palace issued a carefully worded response to Mr Trump's characterisation of the King's views. A spokesperson stated: "The King is naturally mindful of his Government's long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation." The Palace's statement notably referenced the British Government's established stance rather than confirming any personal agreement between the monarch and the president. The state visit also provided the backdrop for diplomatic discussions on the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, with State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott confirming the pair addressed "the urgent need to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." The conflict between the US and Iran, coupled with a fragile truce, has effectively shut down the vital shipping lane. The closure has sent energy prices surging and inflicted damage on the global economy, given the strait's importance for oil and gas transportation. First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins observed that the international shock caused by the route's closure demonstrated that "sea power is vital." However, transatlantic friction persists over responsibility for the waterway's security. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently dismissed UK and French-led efforts as "silly," suggesting Europeans should have "less fancy conferences in Europe and get in a boat." Tensions escalated further on Wednesday when Mr Trump issued fresh warnings to Tehran over nuclear negotiations. The President shared an image on Truth Social depicting himself holding an assault rifle against a backdrop of an exploding hillside, accompanied by the caption "no more Mr Nice Guy." "Iran can't get their act together. They don't know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!" Mr Trump wrote, appearing to threaten renewed military action. The President has maintained that the US-Israeli offensive against Iran was justified as a means of halting Tehran's nuclear weapons programme. Testifying before Congress on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Hegseth confirmed the Pentagon had examined "all aspects" of the risk posed by Iranian blockade of the shipping route. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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