Donald Trump marks end of King Charles’ trip by honouring unusual ‘request’
Donald Trump has marked the end of King Charles' state visit by making a surprise announcement which may symbolise a change in UK-US relations.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla just wrapped up a four-day state visit to the US.
Both Trump and King Charles have been pictured getting along swimmingly, and now the US president said on Thursday (30 April) that he was lifting tariffs on whiskey from the UK, as a nod to the final day of the royal visit.
Trump has wielded tariffs as a tool for foreign policy during his second term, but said in a post on Truth Social that he would remove tariffs and restrictions related to Scotland's ability to work with Kentucky on whiskey and bourbon, Reuters reports.
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The Republican president said the surprising move was 'in Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom'. He had praised Charles throughout the state visit, gushing that he was the 'greatest king'.
The purpose of the state visit was to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump said the Royal visit 'got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking'.
He wrote: "People have wanted to do this for a long time, in that there had been great Inter-Country Trade, especially having to do with the Wooden Barrels used.
"The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking! A wonderful Honor to have them both in the U.S.A."
British trade minister Peter Kyle also welcomed the move. He said: "This is great news for our scotch whisky industry, which is worth almost £1bn in exports and supports thousands of jobs across the UK."
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said Charles 'sends his sincere gratitude' for Trump's decision, adding that it will make an important difference to the British whiskey industry.
The statement reads: "His Majesty will be raising a dram to the President’s thoughtfulness and generous hospitality as he departs the US after a most enjoyable State Visit for both Their Majesties in this special anniversary year."
Where do UK–US relations stand today?
The bond between the UK and US was placed under scrutiny this year, most notably by Trump himself, after the UK declined to join the US-Israeli war against Iran.
One key point of contention has been Iran’s nuclear program, with Donald Trump repeatedly asserting that the country must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
A fallout from the war has been the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a major passageway for maritime traffic. Trump complained that the UK was 'not there when we needed them' during the conflict.
He later suggested that the relationship was in a 'sad state' directly linking that to Britain not backing US actions strongly enough.
Trump also threatened to pull back a trade deal the US signed with the UK last year, amid his criticisms of the British government over disagreements regarding the Middle East. The deal reduced tariffs on cars, aluminium and steel and was 'better than I had do' and could 'always be changed'.
The state visit appears to have helped ease tensions in UK–US relations, at least symbolically.
Topics: Donald Trump, King Charles III, Royal Family, News
Greg Harris