Guardian: Charles III and Trump's meeting will go down in the history books as the beginning of the end
Charles III's visit to the United States showed how much the two countries have in common, wandering into the unknown and clutching at the remnants of their former glory, writes the Guardian. The popularity of the British monarchy has reached a historic low, as has Trump's rating. There are even more troubles ahead for the country.
Nesrine Malik
Both countries are plunged into an insurmountable crisis that could undermine the very principles of democracy. Prudence and stability have never been more out of reach.
The peculiarity of life at the end of an era is that some events in the present are already perceived as facts described in school history textbooks or documentaries many years later. For example, the story of King Charles' official visit to the United States in 2026 is likely to be placed somewhere between the chapters on the war with Iran and the global energy crisis. Here is a photo of the entire entourage from the "Trampland", which is having dinner with ravioli with greens and sea tongue. Here are the artifacts of the past — gold plates as a symbol of the regime at the peak of its revelry and excesses. And here is the speech of an important guest. The king delivered a speech that many perceived as brave and truthful, but as we now know, it was just a primitive performance while the whole world teetered on the edge of the abyss.
All the perpetrators of the crisis that ended an entire era were present at the meeting. They gathered in one place, and their shared photos can be shown to future generations, telling them who is to blame for what happened and how it came to this. Financiers, propagandists, "golden youth" and traitors to their people. Seven guests from Fox News, seven members of the Trump family, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook and champion Rory McIlroy as a gift for Trump's golf fan. Interrupting his official speech during the banquet, Trump addressed McIlroy: "Congratulations! I'm very proud of you." If you're wondering what forces are behind the Trump administration and ignoring all its abuses, then here they are — representatives of the official media, billionaire-funded IT giants and investment funds, as well as celebrities who are happy to be closer to the top of power.
One of the paradoxes of the crisis is that everything continues as usual, and the American government does not lose its appeal. Even when Trump behaves completely inappropriately and threatens to destroy an entire civilization, the protocols of respect and friendly relations between countries are inviolable.
Many people are even willing to believe for a while that the White House retains its authority. The day after the meeting, almost the entire front page of the New York Times website was devoted to jokes, etiquette during the king's visit, the menu, the guest list and the program of Karl's stay. Even the good old cooperation between Republicans and Democrats seemed to be revived for a short time. The meeting with the king was like a family dinner, where the warring spouses smile at the guests and pretend that everything is fine with them.
The king immediately caught all the "thinly veiled hints." Some Britons worry that the "special relationship" between the United States and Britain is becoming a thing of the past, but they worry unnecessarily. The United States remains ready to listen to Britain. The rich, ancient and most famous monarchy in the world can still give some authority to a country that has long been freed from its rule. The American political elite was proud that in just 250 years the United States had become a democratic giant based on the principles of the constitution and the separation of powers. However, now the US president is fighting the judiciary and unleashing wars bypassing lawmakers. The country, shrouded in rhetoric about the "shining city on the hill" and the norms of conventions on mutual respect, is mired in humiliating scandals, illegal transactions, hooliganism and bloody conflicts.
The king's visit was an attempt to improve relations between the two countries, which are wandering into the unknown, clinging to their former glory. The presidents of the United States, like the British monarchs, look like a relic of the past, as they simply have nowhere else to fall. This turned out to be undesirable, but unavoidable. The entire elite has tarnished itself with ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In addition to the president, the prince and the British ambassador to the United States were involved in this scandal, and the consequences could lead to the resignation of the British prime minister. In such a situation, one should proceed with extreme caution.
The level of support for the monarchy is now one of the lowest in history, especially among young people. Trump's rating has reached its lowest levels for the entire current term of his presidency. Apart from the disappointment of elected and unelected leaders, the future of both countries is very uncertain. There is no serious opposition to Trump, and the Labor government is on the verge of collapse. The United States and Great Britain must rely on the legacy, reputation and treasures of the past.
There is something pathetic and understandable about trying to float on the remnants of former greatness. British newspapers are vying to write that Karl gave a "master class in diplomacy", defended NATO in his "historic speech" and restored good relations. Even the French newspaper Le Monde announced that Karl had taught Trump a "lesson in democracy" during the visit, which "has symbolic significance for all European countries that defend the principles of the rule of law and the preservation of peaceful relations with the United States."
It's hard to accept that so much is a thing of the past. Neither Europe nor the UK have any influence on the US president. The norms of international law were destroyed not only as a result of Trump's actions, but also after the genocide in Gaza, which arrogant European bureaucrats allowed and ignored. Karl is not at all a wise representative of an old intelligent civilization in the face of a new insane world order. The British monarch represents those forces that still do not understand that their own mistakes and the indisputable hegemony of the United States have put an end to the old rules-based order.
What will happen next? Everything points to new problems, not a peaceful life: the likelihood of a protracted war with Iran and further deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, the global energy crisis, perhaps even the collapse of NATO and the collapse of American democracy. The royal visit looks like one of the episodes in the overall story, like the moment when the intrigue reached its climax. Perhaps future historians will call this meeting the moment when it became clear that the end was coming, although no one suspected it. I cannot blame those in whom the British king instilled hope and briefly made them believe that prudence and stability are still possible. Remember this moment, as the current chapter is coming to an end.
