At State Dinner, King Charles Charms the Court of Trump

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At State Dinner, King Charles Charms the Court of Trump

King Charles III presented President Trump with a golden bell. “Should you ever need to get hold of us,” the king said, “well, just give us a ring!”

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King Charles III at the state dinner at the White House on Tuesday night, delivering a speech with the right ingredients for President Trump's second term.

Credit...

Kenny Holston/The New York Times

By

Shawn McCreesh

Shawn McCreesh is a White House correspondent. He reported from Washington.

April 29, 2026,

12:12 a.m. ET

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King Charles III demonstrated what seemed to be a master class in Trump II diplomacy at a state dinner in the East Room of the White House Tuesday night, delivering a speech with all the right ingredients in just the right amounts.

There was dry British understatement; jokes tailored to President Trump’s proclivities (a Coca-Cola toast and crack about “readjustments” to the East Wing); a little obsequiousness balanced with a little prodding about NATO; and the shiniest, Trumpiest of gifts.

“Mr. President,” the king said, “I am delighted to present to you, as a personal gift, the original bell which hung on the conning tower of your valiant namesake.” He gestured to an object that had been sitting under a golden cloth on a white pedestal beside him. The red-coated arm of an equerry shot forth to unveil a highly polished bell.

Etched quite clearly onto the bell’s surface were the words TRUMP 1944. Evidently there had been a submarine called HMS Trump, launched from a U.K. shipyard in 1944, that played a role in the Pacific during World War II.

At this, the president stood up from his chair and looked in awe at his new bell. He glanced over at his wife and raised his eyebrows, as if to say:

You see that, honey?

“Should you ever need to get hold of us,” the king said, “well, just give us a ring!” The room burst into applause and the president, looking positively beatific, flashed the king a thumbs-up.

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