A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
President Trump hosted King Charles at a state dinner Tuesday night. They wore white tie at the White House.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Charles took note of Trump's changes to the House and noted that the British troops made their own changes to the building when they burned it in 1814. The king also presented Trump with a ship's bell from a World War II vessel that was called Trump. Charles' day of diplomacy also included an address to Congress.
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KING CHARLES III: The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal.
MARTÍNEZ: NPR political reporter Elena Moore has been following the king's visit. So, Elena, what stood out to you from the king's speech - not the Colin Firth film, but from what King Charles said?
ELENA MOORE, BYLINE: Yeah. Well, the king's trip to the U.S. this week has been, in many ways, symbolic. It's a state visit tied to the celebration of America's 250th birthday, and his speech Tuesday was the first time in nearly 35 years that a British monarch addressed a joint session of Congress. But at the same time, it's also tradition for the royal families to remain politically neutral. And though this speech wasn't overtly political, the king did come with a clear message. At a moment when we're seeing a growing appetite for isolationist policies in this country, he argued that the U.S. and its European allies are stronger together.
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CHARLES III: Ours is an indispensable partnership. We must not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last 80 years. Instead, we must build on it.
MOORE: And that did feel like a counterargument to what we've heard from President Trump, who's long been critical of European leaders and NATO.
MARTÍNEZ: Prime Minister Keir Starmer is the head of the U.K. government. The king is a figurehead, though. So what makes the king's comments notable or have weight?
MOORE: Well, you know, Trump has very different views of Starmer and King Charles. He's made no secret of his longtime admiration for the British royal family, and he's repeatedly praised the king himself. At the same time, Trump has been increasingly vocal in recent weeks about his displeasure with Starmer, arguing that the U.K. has not provided adequate military support in the Iran war. And that's caused headaches for the king at home, where much of the British public oppose this trip. It's the latest gripe Trump has with NATO countries more broadly, and he's previously said he'd consider pulling the U.S. out of the historic post-World War II alliance. So the royals may only have soft power, but hearing Charles lobby like that for NATO is striking.
MARTÍNEZ: Yeah. There's been a lot of tension between the U.S. and NATO, even before the war with Iran began. What did the king have to say about any of that?
MOORE: Yeah. You know, it's interesting because Charles never directly referenced Iran by name in his speech. But, A, he didn't shy away from discussing Ukraine. And there have been calls from many Republicans to stop sending military aid to the country in its war with Russia. European leaders have widely pushed back against that and pledged to keep supporting Ukraine. And King Charles stressed the importance of that support in his speech, referencing how throughout history, the U.S. and the U.K. have stayed united in many major conflicts. He even reminded lawmakers how the first and only time that NATO has invoked its mutual defense clause was in support of the U.S. after the September 11 attacks. Then he said this.
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CHARLES III: Today, Mr. Speaker, that same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people.
MOORE: And, A, that was a moment that actually sparked a bipartisan standing ovation in the chamber.
MARTÍNEZ: That's NPR political reporter Elena Moore. Thanks a lot.
MOORE: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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