Rod Stewart is not mincing words about the president, especially in the company of British royalty. The rocker appeared to refer to Donald J. Trump as “that little ratbag” when he greeted King Charles in a receiving line at an event Monday night in London.
“May I say, well done in the Americas,” Stewart can be heard saying in video captured of their meeting, with Ronnie Wood standing alongside him. “You were superb, absolutely superb… put that little ratbag in his place.”
Charles’ back is to the camera in the video, so it’s unclear exactly how the monarch responded. The Independent said the prince “appeared to laugh off the comment.”
Although Charles’ part of the conversation cannot be heard, Stewart continued, “Exactly, that’s it – it went right over his head, right over his head.”
The singer subsequently turned to Camilla and said, “I was just congratulating your husband on his wonderful performance in the Americas, so great, so brave, so proud.”
Charles and Camilla had made a four-day state visit to the United States in late April that included the prince addressing Congress as well as visiting the president in the Oval Office.
Stewart made headlines earlier this year with his unvarnished thoughts about his former friend, and one-time neighbor in Florida, Trump.
In a video statement in January, he said, “I may just be a humble rock star. I’m also a knight of the realm, and I have my opinions. I was born just after the war [World War II], and have great respect for our armed forces that fought and gave us our freedom. So, it hurts me badly, deeply, when I read that the draft dodger Trump has criticized our troops in Afghanistan for not being on the front line. We lost over 400 of our guys. Think of their parents. Think about it! And Trump calls ’em almost like cowards. It’s unbearable. So I’m calling on you, Prime Minister [Keir] Starmer and [Reform UK leader Nigel] Farage. Please, make the draft dodger Trump apologize, please.”
Charles’ comments on his recent U.S. visit were, of course, far more circumspect.
Speaking at a state dinner at the White House, Charles seemed to be in a jocular mood. “I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing. I’m sorry to say that we British of course made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814,” he quipped.
He presented Trump with the original bell from HMS Trump, a British submarine that operated in the Pacific during World War II, saying it “may stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future.” He added, smiling, “And should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring.”
Charles’ remarks to Congress were more pointed. Politico said: “The British monarch delivered a jovial address to Washington’s leaders that was laced with plenty of shade. … His speech to a bipartisan crowd of elected officials, Supreme Court justices and U.S. military officials was delivered with trademark British understatement but was strong on subtext.”
The prince was seen by some at taking a dig at Trump when he said, “America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more. President Lincoln understood this so well, with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do.”
He also spoke up in defense of NATO, Ukraine and efforts to combat climate change while alluding to the war and “America First” beliefs. “I pray with all my heart that our Alliance will continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth, and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking,” he said.
More possible “shade” in Charles’ speech: “The U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society has calculated that Magna Carta is cited in at least 160 Supreme Court cases since 1789, not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.”
