In sharp contrast to Donald Trump’s previous meetings with world leaders, which have mostly taken place in the public eye, the President decided to sit down with King Charles III behind closed doors at the Oval Office. As such, the Trump administration’s move to not televise his meeting with the British monarch has understandably baffled a lot of people. Nevertheless, it wasn’t without cause that the two leaders chose to have a private encounter.
Donald Trump and King Charles had a closed-door meeting
The fact that the two world leaders chose to have a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office during the British sovereign’s visit to the US has to do with the nature of his post.
Unlike most foreign politicians that Donald Trump has met with during his time as President, King Charles III does not lead a government. As the head of state, the 77-year-old royalty’s role is primarily a ceremonial one and does not require him to actively participate in policymaking in the United Kingdom or make public comments regarding internal affairs.
Therefore, according to an official with knowledge of King Charles III’s meeting with Donald Trump, there were no livestreams of the discussions exchanged between the two dignitaries (via USA Today).
Hence, this also explains why Trump’s Oval Office meet-ups with foreign officials, such as the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, had an openly accessible and televised setting.
Notably, the British royal decorum also restricted Donald Trump from attending King Charles III’s speech to Congress. While the businessman-turned-politician, along with his wife and First Lady, Melania Trump, accompanied the Royals out of the Oval Office, they stayed put as the King made his way to the House Chamber of the US Capitol.
“I was thinking of going, but they said, ‘I don’t know, that might be a step too far. I would love to go,” Trump remarked during the arrival ceremony. “It’s not supposed to be protocol, but I would love to be with you.”
Notably, this is the first state visit by a British monarch since 2007, as well as King Charles III’s first trip.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory.
