LONDON, Sep 18: The opening day of US President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the UK has boasted a packed itinerary – complete with a carriage procession, a Red Arrows flypast and even a new Transatlantic cocktail.
Being the first president to receive an invitation for a second state visit to the UK was a “singular privilege”, he said as per BBC. “Such respect for you and such respect for your country.”
Calling it one of the “highest honours” of his life, Trump joked he hoped it will be the last time someone is invited
twice.
In his speech at the state banquet, he paid tribute to the special relationship the two countries enjoy.
Talking of the phrase “special relationship” from the American point of view, he explained that “The word special
does not begin to do it justice.”
He further said the two countries are joined by a number of things including history, language and transcendent ties of culture, tradition, ancestry and destiny.
The King, in his turn, spoke of today’s events as a renewal of the UK-US bond – referencing the “unshakeable trust in our friendship” and the “shared commitment to independence and liberty”.
The key message from the King’s speech has been about the deep ties between the US and the UK.
“Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” he said while talking about the deep ties between the US and the UK.
He continued, “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace.”
King Charles in his state banquet speech linked this modern threat to democracy with the wartime alliance of the US and UK.
“Our countries have the closest defence, security and intelligence relationship ever known,” he said.
Touching upon the shared history, he even mentioned about America’s battle for independence from his “five times great grandfather, King George III”.
The King also commended the president’s “personal commitment to finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts”.
He then proposed a toast to Trump and Melania, “and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United States of America”.
Earlier in the day, Trump used the occasion to pay his respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, laying a wreath at her tomb in a private moment away from cameras.
The president and the King now sit side-by-side at a banquet table – flanked by members of the Royal Family
and the US administration among the 160 attendees.
Among those who mingled in banquet hall included British PM Sir Keir Starmer, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, former foreign secretary David Lammy, big tech names including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. From American side, there were Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with his wife Jeanette Rubio, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US Masters-winning golfer Nick Faldo.
Trump’s visit continues tomorrow when his focus turns to the political domain. He’ll be sitting down with Prime Minister Starmer and is also expected to meet leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch.
*(UNI)
The post ‘One of highest honours of my life’, says Trump appeared first on Daily Excelsior.