Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, King Charles III
Over the weekend, while chatting over the phone with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer about his new controversial tariff increases, Donald Trump reportedly broke the ice by mentioning King Charles III.
The President kicked off the conversation by sending his well wishes to the monarch, who was last week 'required a short period of observation in hospital' after experiencing side effects amid his cancer diagnosis.
A statement released by Buckingham Palace on Thursday (27 Mar) also revealed that the 76-year-old had been forced to cancel upcoming Royal engagements.
"Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital," the statement read.
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“His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary programme will also be rescheduled.
"His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result."
Following the update, Trump seems to have used The King's health as a means of setting the tone during his scheduled catch-up with Starmer this weekend, which was already reported to be a tense affair.
According to Metro, the 78-year-old Republican passed on his well wishes to Charles regarding his health at the beginning of the conversation.
"The Prime Minister spoke to president Trump this evening," a Downing Street spokesperson told the publication. "The president opened by wishing His Majesty the King best wishes and good health."
The gesture likely came as a surprise to British representatives, given the nature of the scheduled phone call was for Trump and Starmer to discuss the future economic deal between the UK and US following the extreme 25 per cent tariffs Trump placed onto vehicles made outside of the US.
This includes luxury UK car makers, including Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin, with the tax kicking into effect on 2 April, which Trump has called 'liberation day'.
The US leader announced the tariffs last week amid accusations of setting off a global trade war.
Starmer and his associates are currently responsible for arranging a negotiation for exemption from these tariffs, which will be introduced in the next 10 days, and will have a colossal impact on the UK economy.
Trump also announced a general 20 per cent on other UK products last week, acting in response to the rate of VAT.
The Prime Minister has already emphasised that he does not want Britain to become embroiled in a trade war, adding that the UK 'reserves the right' to introduce similarly extreme tariffs on American produce.
The same Downing Street spokesperson told Metro of this weekend's telephone call: "They discussed the productive negotiations between their respective teams on a UK-US economic prosperity deal, agreeing that these will continue at pace this week."
