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/

The one thing that pissed me off a bit was Prince Harry wading in, described by some newsfeeds as ex military and fighting wars. Trumps comments about staying behind the front line absolutely applies to him. He got to receive the accolades when in the military but the reality is we all know not once would his life have been on the line.

FFS, anyone criticising Trump for his disgusting comments is good, even Harry. Just because he is a Royal and understandably may not be on the front line, doesn't mean he cannot criticise these awful comments. Do your comments apply to all the support military too? He served two tours, he knew fellow comrades who died.

Good for him. The more people that speak out the better, let's not be passive on Trump's appalling comments.

Beautifully put, My2cents1975

I may be no Trump fan, but even I can see that expecting the US to fund so much is what's led us into this - fine with administrations who were more laissez faire about endlessly paying, but not so much now - and however ghastly the man is he'll get a lot of support from the many Americans who are equally sick of their taxes propping up so many others

Perhaps look at the draw down of US forces and equipment from all over Western Europe since 1990, before coming out with such crap.

320k troops in Europe in 1990, less than 65k now, the US spends so much on defence because Trumps wants a very large military.

Read the room, now is not the time to be supportive of Trump or his views.

"Beautifully put" makes me sick.

Montgomery wasn't Churchill was he? plus Montgomery was correct.... he acknowledged their sacrifice/capability but said they lacked experience and direction... hardly on par with what Trump has said.

Vance also rubbished European/UK forces recently too.

Trump may be gone by 2028? so what if he is, chances are another MAGA will take his place.

Trump wouldn't put US troops in Europe to defend us, he is more likely to back Putin/Russia and blame the EU for starting a war.

China is not a direct military threat to Europe.

We need to pull away from the USA and yes, if that means more taxes and less welfare, so be it, we used to spend around 5 or 6% of GDP during the Cold War, we can do it again.

Extra defence spend also means more manufacturing jobs and spin offs for UK industry too.

I didn't vote for our president. I've been working with asylum seekers since 2023 and I live in a city being hit by ICE raids. My grandfather was illegal and my father was an anchor baby.

I've commented for months on the fact although LA is an ICE battleground, H & M ignore the situation and seem to attend events in NYC and ignore what is happening in streets of LA.

H, in the past, also cancelled his attendance at a UK military event to attend a Disney event to schill for his wife.

He is now in a position where he wants to come back to the UK, wants more security, and wants to promote Invictus 2027 in Birmingham. He is taking advantage of the First Amendment, which he has publicly criticized. It would also be convenient for him if Trump did kick him out as KC would be stuck with him and have to re-home him in the UK.

Trump listens to KC and PW. We are fighting a civil war here although it hasn't been called one. It would be heartening for our allies to show up and try to get people in DC to listen to some sane advice.

The Royal family were required by the government to host a Head of State, which they did, they “ pull out all the stops” as they are expected to do for any State visit.
King Charles served in the armed forces, including commanding a mine hunter and I would imagine his views of Trumps words about the British Army in Afghanistan would be similar to mine!

British soldiers are great and brave

https://archive.is/Nk1Ln

I think there is no dealing with Trump. There is no relationship he will honour.
Everyday he is worse and wants more and more and more of whatever is his latest mad whim.
I understand that initially KS and KC sought to manage his gigantic ego with soft power but time has shown it counts for nothing so let’s at least retain our dignity and leave Trump to lie in his own faeces alone.

Plus KC has cancer and Harry for a son. Surely that’s enough shit for now.

Yes you are correct - though it bought us some time and more favourable tariffs - even if this is only short term. Normal rules don’t apply with thugs like Trump and 99.9% of diplomacy will be being worked on hard behind the scenes between government departments. It’s also a balance between actions for the long game, somehow respecting past US relationship / US people and thinking about the future when Trump isn’t there. Trade and security agreements take years of work to build up, develop and maintain - but can collapse in an instant. Wise heads, and consistent skill are required to manage through this hideous period.

HM QEII was civil to such heads of state as Mugabe when it was required of her. She may or may not have felt sick, but she didn't allow it to show.

She only met Mugabe immediately after independence and whilst Zim was in the Commonwealth.

For KC to go ahead with a potential visit to the US would be a further kick in the teeth for UK & its armed forces.

Trump hasn't apologised.

It won’t be up to KC though will it? He’ll do what he’s told to by the government.

Given the evident joy with which the Queen wore her Williamson Pink Diamond Brooch (from a notorious mine where the practices were so horrific that describing them would require its own thread with a hefty trigger warning) among other blood diamonds in the Royal Collection, I doubt she really thought too deeply about the ethics of any of it.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/25/you-dont-want-to-live-inside-his-head-diplomats-dilemma-in-the-age-of-trump

Brilliant article about the different and difficult diplomacy required with these types - also how flattery has some impact with these buffoons!