The royal couple, aged 77 and 78, landed in Washington, D.C. on Monday, April 27, where they were formally welcomed with flowers from children of British military families and greeted by officials before walking through a ceremonial military guard.
However, the visit was already overshadowed by a recent security scare at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where gunshots were reported and Trump was swiftly escorted out by Secret Service. The suspect, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, has since been charged in connection with the attempted assassination.
Lip reader claims chilling exchange
According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, Trump appeared to reference the incident upon greeting the King, saying: “This shooting …”
Charles reportedly responded with unease: “I’d rather not stand about here too long. I feel I shouldn’t be here.”
Trump is then said to have reassured him, asking if he was alright and adding: “It’s not a good thing. I wasn’t prepared, but now I am prepared.”
The conversation allegedly took a more serious turn when Trump brought up global tensions, reportedly telling the monarch: “So right now, I am talking to Putin. He wants war.”