Trump Floats Idea of U.S. Joining British Commonwealth, Calls King Charles 'Wonderful'

Former President Donald Trump has raised eyebrows once again by suggesting that the United States could join the British Commonwealth if invited by King Charles III. Trump shared his enthusiasm for the idea on Truth Social, declaring, "I love King Charles" and linking to a report that claimed the monarch might offer the U.S. associate membership during Trump’s upcoming second state visit to Britain. "Sounds good to me!" he added.

The notion of the U.S. joining the British Commonwealth—an organization composed of 56 nations, including former British colonies like Canada and Australia—is undoubtedly intriguing. Historically, the U.S. was part of the British Empire before achieving independence in the Revolutionary War. While membership in the Commonwealth is voluntary, it’s typically reserved for nations with historical ties to Britain. The idea of America joining the fold might raise a few eyebrows, not least considering its history of declaring independence from the Crown in rather dramatic fashion.

Trump’s fondness for the British monarchy isn’t new. He shared warm sentiments about Queen Elizabeth II during her lifetime, describing her as "great" and marveling at her reign of 75 years without a single misstep. Trump has also praised King Charles and his son Prince William, with whom he met in Paris last December. However, when it comes to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, his comments have been notably less glowing.

According to the Daily Mail, the concept of U.S. membership in the Commonwealth was first floated during Trump’s presidency, with hopes that such a move might ease trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada. "This is being discussed at the highest levels," a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society reportedly said, adding that associate membership could eventually lead to full membership. They also pointed out Trump’s admiration for Britain and the royal family as potential factors in gaining his support.

Late last month, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented Trump with King Charles' invitation for a second state visit during a meeting in the Oval Office. Starmer described the letter as a symbol of the strong relationship between the two countries and expressed hopes of making this upcoming visit even better than Trump's first state visit in 2019. Trump responded enthusiastically, saying, "The answer is yes," and extended gratitude on behalf of himself and First Lady Melania Trump.

During the exchange, Trump described King Charles as "beautiful" and a "wonderful man," adding that he had gotten to know the monarch well during his first term and now his second term. While the idea of U.S. membership in the Commonwealth remains speculative, Trump’s comments certainly add a layer of intrigue to his upcoming visit to Britain.