King Charles III on Tuesday afternoon gave a joint address to Congress, where he urged the United States to reject becoming “more inward-looking” and touted NATO, despite President Donald Trump’s criticism of the alliance.
The king’s nearly 30-minute speech, which yielded high attendance and support from lawmakers, came as trans-Atlantic relations have been strained by the war in Iran. Trump has attacked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders for refusing to support the U.S.’s efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Yet, during the king’s remarks, he stressed the importance of NATO and its support of the U.S. after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“From the depths of the Atlantic to the disastrously melting ice caps of the Arctic, the commitment and expertise of the United States armed forces and its allies lie at the heart of NATO, pledged to each other’s defense, protecting our citizens and interests, keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries,” the King said as he received a standing ovation.
The king also urged “unyielding resolve” for the defense of Ukraine, even though many GOP lawmakers in attendance have objected to providing additional aid to Kyiv without accountability measures in place.
“I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and the commonwealth, and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking,” Charles said as he concluded.
The king’s remarks stand in stark contrast with the harsh criticism Trump has leveled at NATO allies.
“NATO wasn’t there for us, and they won’t be there for us in the future!” Trump wrote this month on Truth Social, referring to the Iran war.
Charles’s visit has been viewed by some as a goodwill gesture to cool those tensions. The King made his visit to Capitol Hill and White House to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
The king was met with an excited audience on the House floor as many members of Congress took photos and videos and sat near the center to get a handshake.
During his speech, Charles received several standing ovations from both Republicans and Democrats — a rare occurrence in a highly partisan Washington. The crowd expressed their support for his comments on the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, condemning the assassination attempt on Trump’s life over the weekend, the bond of the U.S. and U.K. relationship, the separation of powers, his Christian faith, and valuing people of all faiths.
Vice President JD Vance attended, along with a handful of Trump Cabinet members, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins.
WATCH LIVE: KING CHARLES DELIVERS ADDRESS TO CONGRESS TO CELEBRATE AMERICA 250
Also attending were Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, and former Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer.
The last joint address from a British monarch was by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. Charles and Queen Camilla landed in Washington on Monday for a four-day visit. He will travel to New York on Wednesday, and their final day will be spent in Virginia on Thursday.