By CHARLIE SPIERING, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER IN LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM Published: 22:14 BST, 17 September 2025 | Updated: 22:15 BST, 17 September 2025
President Donald Trump subtly reminded the British people of the Western values that made their country great during his toast to King Charles at the state dinner at Windsor Castle on Wednesday eveningThe president specifically pointed to the value of free speech, at a time when conservative activists in Britain are critical of the government due to police harassment and arrests for posts on social media deemed to be offensive. UK police have been making a spree of arrests for social media posts deemed offensive under broad and vague decades-old laws. These arrests have targeted online messages that cause 'annoyance,' 'anxiety,' or are 'grossly offensive.''The British Empire laid the foundations of law, liberty, free speech and individual rights virtually everywhere the Union Jack has ever flown including a place called America,' Trump said. As the king chuckled, and Queen Camilla grinned, Trump replied, 'You know that place very well don't you?' The president also hinted at his own MAGA political slogan, citing a 1993 document from the King vowing to 'put the 'great' back into Great Britain' praising his great patriotism. 'He's given his whole heart and everything he's got to the parts of britain that are beyond the realm of mere legislation,' he said.The president also took great pride in noting that the bust of Winston Churchill had been returned to a place of honor in the Oval Office, after former President Barack Obama and former President Joe Biden had moved it. US President Donald Trump delivers his speech as King Charles III listens US President Donald Trump and King Charles III at the state banquet for the US President and First Lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle'The bust is in the Oval Office right now, the beautiful bust of Winston Churchill,' Trump said, referring to the 'special relationship' expressed by the famous British prime minister.'Seeing from American eyes, the word 'special' does not begin to do it justice,' Trump said. 'We're joined by history and fate by love and language and by transcendent ties of culture tradition ancestry and destiny.'Trump also took a subtle shot at Biden, noting that the United States was 'very sick' under his leadership. 'We had a very sick country one year ago and today, I believe we're the hottest country anywhere in the world, in fact nobody is even questioning that,' he said. The president boasted that the United States and the United Kingdom had brought peace, prosperity, and innovation around the world. 'Together we have done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history,' he said. The president spoke about the values of the English speaking world, giving tribute to some of the great English works of literature. The Princess of Wales, US President Donald Trump and King Charles III at the state banquet for the US President and First Lady Melania Trump Guests attend a State Banquet during a State visit of President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.'The language born in these isles was perfected in the pages of Shakespeare and Dickens, Tolkien, Lewis, Orwell, Kipling,' he said. He toasted the King describing him as a 'very very special man' and praised Queen Camilla as 'a very very special queen.' The president was not the only dignitary to allude to the values of the Western world, specifically calling out the importance of defending Ukraine from Russian aggression. 'In two World Wars we fought together to defeat the forces of tyranny,' he said. 'Today, as tyranny once again faces Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine to deter aggression and secure peace.'Charles also referred to the importance of protecting the environment.
