‘I love King Charles’: Trump keen on US joining the Commonwealth
By Rob Harris
London: Donald Trump has expressed interest in the United States becoming an “associate member” of the Commonwealth, citing his admiration for King Charles.
The US president posted on social media a news story from The Sun that referred to a supposed “secret offer” the British monarch is due to make during Trump’s planned state visit to the UK. He added: “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”
2019: Then Prince Charles poses for a photo with Trump and wife Melania during a trip to London to attend the 70th anniversary of NATO.Credit: AP
The idea, which has surfaced before, was first reported by the London Telegraph in 2017 during Trump’s first term in office and appears to have gained traction again during this term.
The Sun news story followed a Daily Mail article that said plans were “allegedly in the works to make the USA the next ‘associate member’ of the Commonwealth”. It was reported that the US was being considered for membership discussions at the “highest levels”, although it remains unclear whether the British monarchy or government are officially involved in any such plans.
The article added that including the US in the Commonwealth “may dampen the current conflict” with Canada, which Trump has said he would like to annex. Mark Carney, the country’s new prime minister, visited the King in London this week. Canada has been a Commonwealth member since 1931.
King Charles at the opening ceremony Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa in 2024. The main themes of the meeting were resilience and sustainability. Credit: Getty Images
The Commonwealth of Nations was established in 1926. It is a voluntary association of 56 countries – including Australia, Canada, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and New Zealand – led by the King and its members are generally drawn from the former British Empire. However, the last four countries to join – Mozambique, Rwanda, Gabon, and Togo – had no historical ties to Britain.
The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), an independent charity that promotes literacy, equality, and environmental causes across the Commonwealth, was reportedly behind the initiative.
“Donald Trump loves Britain and has great respect for the royal family, so we believe he would see the benefits of this. Associate membership could, hopefully, be followed by full membership, making the Commonwealth even more important as a global organisation,” a member of the society told the Mail.
The potential for the US to join as an “associate member” would mark an unprecedented shift in the Commonwealth’s structure.
Trump has been invited to meet Charles at either Balmoral or Dumfries House in Scotland later this year.
In a recent exchange with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a White House meeting, Trump spoke fondly of the King, calling him a “beautiful man” and a “wonderful man”. He also stated that he looked forward to visiting the UK, adding, “Your country is a fantastic country, and it’ll be our honour to be there.”
There are, however, significant hurdles for the US to overcome in joining the Commonwealth, even as an associate member. The eligibility criteria require countries to have a historic constitutional link to an existing member or, in exceptional cases, to demonstrate adherence to the organisation’s fundamental values, including democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
The US, which declared independence from Britain in 1776, has not been involved in the Commonwealth since the American colonies severed ties with the British Empire. The US is also set to commemorate the 250th anniversary of its independence next year, with a series of events planned to mark the milestone.
The RCS did not respond to inquiries, and no official confirmation has been given regarding the discussions.
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