Decoding the King: Brits Hear Subtle Rebuke to Trump that Americans Might Miss (thanks to Ann M.)
By Michael D. Shear in the NYT
Michael D. Shear is the chief U.K. correspondent, and spent the last four days following King Charles on his state visit to the United States.
The reviews are in: The British press say King Charles III delivered a masterful diplomatic rebuke of President Trump this week, in an ever-so-polite royal way.
“King delivers hard truths” read a headline in the Daily Mail, praising him for urging the United States to defend NATO and Ukraine. A journalist at The Sun called him “Britain’s No.1 diplomat.” The Independent said Charles chided Mr. Trump with a “combination of eloquence and élan,” speaking in “such nuanced and sophisticated terms that even Trump and his volatile supporters could not take offense.” The New Statesman said it was “politics couched in regal tones.”
To many Americans, the sharp edges of the king’s seemingly tactful message may not have been apparent. And even Mr. Trump seems to have been oblivious to the fact that Charles was gently taking him to task. After waving goodbye to the royal couple Thursday morning, the president turned to reporters and said: “Great people. We need more people like that in our country.”
The king is, of course, British, and like his fellow countrymen, can be famously indirect. Americans looking for blunt or obvious statements were always going to be disappointed.
Britain’s constitutional monarchy requires, as Buckingham Palace puts it, that the king remain “politically neutral on all matters,” including, presumably, while interacting with the volatile leader of one of the country’s closest allies. (continued on Page 2 or here)