King Charles faces a diplomatic balancing act

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]are taking a live look at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, where King Charles and Queen Camila are arriving for a 4-day state visit. Uh first, they will meet with President Trump and the first lady, and then afterwards, they will have a state dinner. Uh we are checking in with an expert, Dr. Garrett Martin, co-director of American University School of International Service. Dr. Martin, welcome on the show and thank you so much for being here.

[00:00:27]>> Thank you for having me. Well, of course, everyone wants to know what is the importance of this state visit. What stakes are there on the line for uh the American leadership as well as uh the British monarchy?

[00:00:40]>> Well, I think state visits are already important in themselves because it's an honor that's not bestowed upon all countries. So, that in itself I think is a marker of the importance of the ties between the United States and the United Kingdom. I think the second importance is simply because uh the context is challenging. Uh relations between the UK and the United States have not been smooth sailing in the past year. So is this an opportunity to try and correct a little bit to try and move towards a better dynamic after some difficult moments in recent months?

[00:01:10]>> And of course um when it comes to American politics, when people have issues with their elected officials, they voice their displeasure or pleasure at the ballot box. But when it comes to the British monarchy, what is the currency to show displeasure? We've already seen some people um over in the UK saying they are very upset with this visit considering that uh the president's war with Iran is causing issues for them as well as folks here at home. What currency does the British monarchy have to either uh sway uh I don't want to say constituents because that might be the wrong word but to to sway their their subjects into you know liking them and wanting this to go as smoothly as possible.

[00:01:52]>> Well I think it's yes it's not exactly the same accountability that you might have with elected officials but I think the monarchy still uh has endured and survived over difficult periods in its recent history and longer history. So I think they are somewhat attuned to public opinion. I think you know the king and queen are being sent on behalf of the British government as well. So I think it's an important mission uh that the UK prime minister Karma wants them to accomplish. But it is certainly true as you mentioned that the visit is not popular. I mean President Trump has an unfavorable rating of minus minus 70 with the British public. So certainly you can imagine that the visit was not necessarily welcome. But I think there's a belief that the the ties binding London and Washington are important enough to try and mend and cultivate.

[00:02:40]>> Uh, and do you think that King Charles has the the gusto to make anything happen here? Um, or do you feel like he may just kind of assuage the president's uh wants and needs?

[00:02:53]Now, you know, anyone, let alone a king or anyone else, I think it would be difficult in four days to try and address what have been sort of deep structural points of difference in the past year or in the past months. So, I think the idea that that that we're not going to fix that now, but I think there's two elements here that are important. One is certainly you can try to at least change a little bit of the narrative and recently there's been a lot of pop shots on both sides of the Atlantic that hasn't helped. And secondly, it's also a visit about the future. It's also part of the of the trip involves engaging with Americans, not the government. So, there's also an element that, you know, kings will come and go, presidents will come and go, but a hope that the uh long-standing ties between the United States and the United Kingdom will continue.

[00:03:38]>> I was going to ask, um, with King Charles's ascension to the throne, um, have things changed in terms of how people view the royal family? Um, again, he's waited through his own uh controversies, not necessarily with him, but with uh, you know, his members of his family and things like that.

[00:03:58]>> I, you know, I think there's, it's still, you know, although Queen Elizabeth was in was obviously Queen for a long time, he still of a similar generation. So, I think we're more likely to see a bigger shift uh, when he passes and whoever, you know, when Prince presumably Prince uh, William succeeds him. I think there there'll be a bigger shift. There are small changes.

[00:04:17]I mean he's a little bit more politically active or had been a little bit more politically active on certain domains than his mother. I mean Prince King Charles has strong feelings about the environment, organic farming to name a few examples. So I think that's one element of a small difference. But otherwise, you know, they're global celebrities and you know, you have shows like The Crown and others that have definitely kept them in the news. So I think they still have real name recognition even in the United States.

[00:04:43]>> Um Dr. Dr. Martin, uh I was going to ask with uh so it's so interesting how this British monarchy and this American leadership kind of have these very similar uh issues going about. I mean let's talk even about the Epstein files and with how the British has been handling that controversy and how the US leadership has been handling that controversy and that also seems to be a big criticism with uh folks for uh with folks about his uh coming to the US. Um, how do you think that has maybe upped uh King Charles's public perception for his own folks over in the UK?

[00:05:20]>> I mean, yeah, certainly. I mean, you know, the epste, you're absolutely right, is not being just an American story. It's kind of a global story. It's a story that has touched u members of the elite and in this case members of the royal family and obviously uh the former Prince Andrew Mountbatton. So, it's a very sensitive subject in the UK.

[00:05:38]It's a very sensitive subject for the royal family and it's obviously a very sensitive subject uh in the United States. So I think the decision not to meet with some of the survivors as had been put forward by Representative Roana I think is striking. I know um the queen is going to try to meet with some victims of domestic abuse. So I suppose paying lip service but I think this is also a visit that will be marked by what is not said and what is not done as much as what happens. And it looks we're taking a a live look here at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, where it looks like they're finally about to get off the plane after, I'm sure, quite a long ride. Um, with King Charles and Queen Camila here in the US, does this do anything to to bolster the president's um appearance or public opinion on on him at all?

[00:06:27]Well, I I think these these visits, these state visits with all the pomp and circumstance, I think are certainly important to to showcase the authority and influence of any president. So, I think from in the short term, I think they can help a little bit, but I would say the attitudes towards a President Trump, whether from supporters or detractors, I think are much more ingrained around everyday pocketbook considerations rather than uh you know, this visit per se. will have a small impact for a few days, but as you know all too well, the news cycle is rather rich these days.

[00:07:01]>> You know, do you think that uh King Charles can do any I mean I would say his rhetoric on the president hasn't been very strong. Um you know he seems to be kind of like a neutral party in this trying to just you know maintain uh you know a political correctness about himself. Uh do you think that he goes there with the president to try and you know maybe put on a show for folks back in the UK to get him to back off some things that could improve uh life affordability and things like that over over across the pond.

[00:07:34]I'm sure in private that there may be some mentions and there may be some me messaging because it's true that when you're talking about the war in Iran, I think one of the source of frustration um in the UK is the sort of economic consequences that is imposing upon many whether the cost of fuel or the cost of energy. So I think that message might be put forward. We know that King Charles also emphas emphasized the importance of helping Ukraine uh during President Trump's state visit in September. that may also come come about. So I imagine that there might be private messaging but in general I think there's still an element of trying to avoid any embarrassing moments any issues any public disputes or any public uh distractions will be the main goal.

[00:08:18]>> I I think you you hit the nail on the head and we are we are still waiting for uh the king and queen to come out of their jet. The door still seems to be uh closed here but uh you know hopefully we'll get a glimpse of them soon enough.

[00:08:30]Dr. Martin, thank you so much for your time and taking all my baseball speed questions I'm throwing at you and uh we will see you guys on the other side of the break.

[00:08:40]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:08:46]>> All right, it looks like we're still going to uh stay looking here, hoping for King Charles and Queen Camila to come on out of their jet for their 4-day state visit to meet President Trump and the first lady. We