Why King Charles should still visit Trump
Americano
The Spectator
4.0 • 762 Ratings
🗓️ 18 March 2026
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
King Charles is due to travel to the US on a state visit to see President Donald Trump. Given the turbulence between Starmer and Trump over the war in Iran, some politicians such as Ed Davey have suggested the King should not go. Freddy Gray speaks to royal author and Daily Mail journalist Robert Hardman about the history of controversial state visits, why Donald Trump loves the royal family, and how King Charles navigates his royal duties and subtle influence over leaders.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | On Tuesday the 24th of March, our speakers will debate the motion, |
| 0:04.0 | this House believes we should abolish the licence fee. |
| 0:07.2 | Spectator Chairman Charles Moore and the telegraphs Alison Pearson |
| 0:10.2 | will propose the motion with Spectator editor Michael Gove |
| 0:13.4 | and former BBC America editor John Sopel opposing. |
| 0:16.8 | I'm Isabel Hardman and I'll be in the chair to maintain decorum and take your pressing questions. |
| 0:22.2 | Join us on Tuesday the 24th of March at 7pm and book your tickets at spectator.com |
| 0:27.7 | forward slash debate. |
| 0:36.3 | Hello and welcome back to the Americana Show. My name is Freddie Gray. I am the deputy editor of the |
| 0:41.9 | spectator and the US editor. And I'm pleased to tell you that this is the 10th year of the |
| 0:48.3 | Americano podcast. And I think it's fair to say it's been a fairly fascinating time in American politics, life and culture. |
| 0:58.1 | And that's what we talk about every episode on this podcast. |
| 1:02.1 | So please keep listening and provide as much feedback as you like. |
| 1:06.8 | Today I am delighted to be joined by the Daily Mail's Robert Hardman, who is author of an upcoming book, Elizabeth |
| 1:14.8 | the second, in private, in public. He's also the author of a biography of King Charles. And we're going to |
| 1:23.2 | be talking about the state of the special relationship and the royal family and Donald Trump, |
| 1:30.3 | because the king is meant to be going to America at the end of this month. But the state of that |
| 1:38.2 | visit is a matter of some debate. Donald Trump is, of course, very angry, it seems with Kyrgyr Stama, |
| 1:46.3 | the Prime Minister over the Iran War and Britain's apparent lack of support for America's |
| 1:53.3 | Operation Epic Fury. And several British politicians, including the leader of the liberal |
| 2:00.0 | Democrats, Ed Davy, |
| 2:01.9 | has suggested that the trip should be cancelled. So, Robert, I suppose the first question to ask you |
... |
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