U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the British as America’s closest friends while welcoming King Charles III to the White House for a state visit taking place against the backdrop of tensions over the Iran conflict.
In speech during a pomp-filled welcome featuring a 21-gun salute, Trump's tone was a world away from the recent broadsides aimed at Britain's government for failing to join the conflict with Tehran.
"In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British," said Trump, referring to the fact that the visit marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. colonies declaring their freedom from British rule.
Using a phrase prized by British governments since Winston Churchill first used it after World War II, Trump said that the two countries had a "special relationship, and we hope it will always remain that way."
The U.S. leader also praised the British military, saying that "nobody fought better together" with the United States, despite recently deriding Britain's two aircraft carriers as "toys."
