The King meets Trump - what could go wrong?

The King meets Trump - what could go wrong?

From The Fourcast by Channel 4 News

April 27, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

The episode discusses King Charles's visit to Washington amidst political tensions and the implications for UK-US relations.

King Charles heads to Washington at a moment of extraordinary tension. The visit comes just days after an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump - and against the backdrop of a deepening war in Iran, strained UK-US relations, and growing questions about America’s global role. In this episode of The Fourcast, Krishnan Guru-Murthy asks whether Britain’s most powerful tool, soft power, can hold up in the face of Trump’s unpredictable politics. From attacks on the UK Prime Minister and British troops, to disputes over sovereignty and trade, how should the King navigate a meeting with a president who thrives on disruption? Krishnan is joined by Julie Montagu, Countess of Sandwich, Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, and former UK ambassador to the US Sir David Manning to discuss what’s at stake, and whether this royal visit can steady the so-called “special relationship,” or risk making things worse.

People in this episode

Host: Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Guests: Julie Montagu, Al Pinkerton, Sir David Manning

Topics covered

  • King Charles
  • Donald Trump
  • soft power
  • UK-US relations
  • royal visit
  • political tension

Keywords

  • King Charles
  • Donald Trump
  • soft power
  • UK-US relations
  • political tension
  • royal visit
  • assassination attempt

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Liberal Democrat

Places: UK, US, Washington

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