Donald Trump met with King Charles III for the first time as monarch of Great Britain, after his accession to the British throne in September 2022. Photo Getty Images
US President Donald Trump has arrived in the UK for a second state visit. The event comes amid international challenges – from the war in Ukraine to discussions about Palestinian statehood. Why does a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer bode well for Trump and which top executives were at the banquet? Highlights from The Guardian, FT and The Times.
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On September 17, US President Donald Trump met with the British royal family for the second time. For him, the content of the talks is not so much important as the imagery and symbolism. “He wants to look as presidential as possible and make a big event out of meeting the king and the monarchy in general,” former US official Michael Martins told The Guardian. The Windsor ceremony, a state banquet, a meeting with the royal family, military displays and economic deals are intended to highlight the “special relationship” between the two countries.
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It cannot be replaced and cannot be broken,” the US president said. “We have done more good for humanity than any two countries in history combined.”
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The ambassador's resignation and the murder of an associate on the eve of the meeting
The visit comes amid a political crisis in the government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He fired the British ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, over his links to millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, leaving London without a key diplomat during a state visit. This poses risks, because, as sources note The Guardian, the Trump team has already expressed sympathy for former ambassador Karen Pierce, who is now working in the Western Balkans, and the president could use the opportunity to influence the personnel decision.
An additional irritant was the murder in the US of the president's aide Charlie Kirk, which sparked discussions about freedom of speech. However, Trump did not come to criticize. “He obviously likes the royal family. He likes Britain,” former government adviser Ed Owen told The Guardian. In addition, he avoids London and protests, so he arrived for a two-day visit without addressing members of parliament, which is appropriately on vacation. This removes the threat of political confrontation, The Guardian writes.
For Starmer’s government, the visit was both a challenge and a convenient distraction. The resignation of Mandelson has destabilized the British government, but Trump’s presence puts domestic problems on the back burner. “The government is happy that the holidays are coming,” one normally loyal Labour MP told The Guardian. “If we had been working in parliament for the next few weeks, the problems would be serious.”
Queen Camilla of Great Britain, King Charles III, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Photo Getty Images
Wars in the world and investments in Great Britain
At a state banquet at Windsor Castle, Donald Trump and US First Lady Melania were among the royal family and influential guests from the worlds of politics and business. At the table sat Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman next to Keir Starmer, Apple CEO Tim Cook next to singer Tiffany Trump, as well as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser. The atmosphere indicated that this visit was not only ceremonial, but also economic and political, the FT adds.
King Charles III thanked Trump in his speech for his “personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most complex conflicts,” referring to his attempts to influence the situation in Gaza and Ukraine. At the same time, he warned that “tyranny again threatens Europe.” In doing so, he emphasized the need to stand together in support of Kyiv, writes the FT. The king also touched on the topic of the environment and international security, recalling the
Donald Trump met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his second state visit to the UK, September 18, 2025. Photo Getty Images
Meeting with Keir Starmer
Trump is also set to have tough talks with Starmer on September 18, the FT predicts. The two are expected to discuss the Middle East and the war in Ukraine, culminating in a joint press conference where Trump is likely to be asked questions about London's plans to recognise the state of Palestine and his own links to Jeffrey Epstein.
Starmer has already presented the US president with a red ministerial box embossed with the US coat of arms – an item that embodies the British tradition of power, but at the same time emphasizes Trump's personal style, The Times writes.
At Chequers, Trump was greeted by pipers and a guard of honor, and he and Starmer toured the archives of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill before a bilateral meeting and business reception.
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