Given that Trump has just insulted our war heroes and is trying to buy Greenland when it’s not for sale, do you think that the Government should instruct King Charles to cancel his visit to the USA?

[Remainsamystery344]

As a Republican from a UK forces family,
I normally shy away from phrases like “war heroes” but I feel really upset today for the families of young men and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan, after Trump suggested to Fox News that NATO troops “stayed a little off the front lines”.

What Trump said is not only profoundly insulting but factually incorrect. The UK in fact suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the Afghanistan conflict after the United States.

This Guardian article lays out the statistics:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/22/trump-nato-afghanistan-troops

Of course this is all part of Trumps’s plan to disparage and undermine NATO, but if we are going to have a monarchy, and if KC3 is obliged by the government to attend, can he, as Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, and having served in the Royal Navy and the RAF himself, at least make a stand in an official speech? Few others seem to have sufficient rank or power to do so?

King Charles could start by mentioning Para Joshua Leakey who survived the conflict having risked his own life to save a US Marine and was subsequently awarded a Victoria Cross for his bravery.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2015/03/03/british-soldier-awarded-victoria-cross-for-saving-marine/

As a veteran who is utterly disgusted by that man, I’m torn. I am tempted to say the visit should be cancelled, but actually KC going there and meeting other senior Americans as well as that disgusting draft dodger, could be beneficial. I know the vast majority of the U.S. military will respect the UK (and Denmark etc) forces, and the draft dodger won’t last forever. I would hope that KC can find time to recognise our contribution in a subtle way that makes dt look like the coward he is.

Thanks for such a balanced response Radiatorvalves. I’m torn too which is why I posted.

Part of me agrees. The part that understands how deeply embedded we are in trade deals and that this situation represents challenges of real politik to a degree that we have rarely experienced before.

And there are too few opposition voices speaking up from within the USA, save perhaps for the Governor of California and that includes the military, KC3 might be one of the few people given his unique position who can speak up? Or at least, as you say, initiate debate?

On the other hand, I can’t help thinking back to the start of WW2, how everyone was far too conciliatory to Hitler, and the treachery of Edward VIII.

I don’t think I was the only one who was uncomfortable at the sight of Trump walking down the red carpet being lauded at the state dinner last year!

I’m not suggesting, even remotely, that we are close to a Traitor King situation but KC3 and the government definitely need to make a firm stand,

100% I would like to see it cancelled. Not just because of the latest disgusting comments by that fucking moron but because it's becoming more and more obvious how insane he is and I believe a visit by our King - or frankly any foreign dignitaries at all - gives legitimacy to Trump's position which he so clearly should not be occupying.

Well... yes...because of this... (I think a health problem for Charles will sort it)

How dare he criticise NATO support.

No, just take everything with a pinch of salt, and be very understanding of a man who is either in the first stages of dementia or suffering from some sort of meglamanic mental disorder.

That sums it up nicely thank you!

Yes, leaving aside all controversy, Harry served two tours in Afghanistan, first as a forwards air controller 2007-2008) and then as an Apache helicopter pilot (2012-2013) and experienced combat.

And yes how bloody dare Trump criticise NATO support of every nationality?

I hope they don’t resort to a diplomatic excuse though.

Archive link to Guardian report

https://archive.is/4CkRN

“Be very understanding”. Are you being serious? He’s President of America, not some random unwell man you should be understanding of if he takes too long at the supermarket checkout or something.

Totally agree with your point about official glad-handing further legitimising the Orange One’s position.

No, because a constitutional monarchy hosts whoever the government tell him / her to.

The question is whether the government should withdraw the invitation.

This is about the king’s visit to America. And OP’s question literally says “should the government instruct King Charles to cancel”

Which is exactly what the title of the thread asks!

Eh? I hope this is sarcasm?

Absolutely it should be cancelled by the government. And they should grow a backbone and state why!

There is no government invitation. This is Charles going across to US to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain. Coincidentally it is also Trump's 80th birthday so it will obviously be all about him.

I think Charles could get out of this for health reasons.

Bearing in mind that I'm American, so may be coming at it from a different perspective, yes, I think it should absolutely be cancelled.

The man is dangerous and demented and destroying his own country, both internally and internationally. While I wish there was more resistance to him at home, I think the international community needs to make it resoundingly clear that it will not be bullied and is prepared to move on without the US if necessary. Take a leaf from Carney's book.

First of all I’d like to say I too am disgusted at trump’s comments. This seems very low even for him. And he Is lower than a snake’s belly.

it’s tough isn’t it? Trump is clearly impressed by the British monarchy. Perhaps KCIII is the only person in Europe that he might listen to.

It OTOH I’d hate him to think that the visit was any sign of endorsement or approval from the UK.

Ugh. He’s just impossible to manage. The odious megalomaniac.

Take a leaf out of Carney’s book

It’s interesting because of course Charles is also king of Canada, but will do what the UK gov decides here. Although Starmer would be sensible to consider Canada’s views on it I think.

If you outsource your defense to a third party...you limit your foreign policy options vis-a-vis that third party. If you pay for defense, well that means significant cuts to social spending to redirect to defense spending.

Moreover, this isn't the first time insults have been hurled between allies...see UK General Bernard Montgomery's negative comments about US troops, while they were actively fighting and dying in Europe in WW2. Montgomery's comments particularly incensed US Generals including Omar Bradley, George Patton et al. But the alliance held because Germany was the real threat.

Reality is that Trump is gone in 2029 and Russia and China will still be geopolitical threats in 2029. The long-term peace and stability of the Western Alliance is far greater than Trump...take a long, hard look at Ukraine and understand the reason there are no Russian Iskander missiles landing in Picadilly Circus is thanks to the NATO alliance anchored by the entire US nuclear arsenal.

IMHO, Trident and the security of the UK population is too important to give Trump any excuses to act foolish. KC3 can suck it up...he swore the oath at his coronation, so he has to get on with the job.

After hearing Trump's obvious disdain for the UK and Canada, I don't believe the King should go. It's a great shame that he was invited here for a second state visit.

Appeasement never works, and it particularly doesn't work with him, though. JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Elon Musk and Nigel Farage, and their handlers, openly want the European alliance destroyed, and they'll have his ear over KC.

I've just watched this and it's bang on and extremely worrying.

It’s not just the British and other non US NATO military personnel who paid the ultimate price, but also those who lost their health, physical and mental, and those who could no longer live with the pain of that aftermath. The bone spur draft dodger is spitting on all of them. There are no words strong enough to convey the contempt I feel for him.

I’ve seen Starmers comments and rebukes to Trump. Heartening to see. However there doesn’t seem much of a response from the White House. Frankly, unless there is an apology, a meaningful apology, from that repulsive man, I do not think the visit should go ahead.

Very well said 👏👏👏👏👏