President Donald Trump has indicated he would accept an offer from King Charles for the United States to become an “associate member” of the Commonwealth.
The president posted on his Truth Social account on Friday: “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”
His enthusiastic response came after reports that the monarch is preparing to extend the unprecedented offer during Trump’s upcoming state visit to the UK.
The proposal was first reported by the Mail, which claimed the offer is “being discussed at the highest levels” and would be formally extended when Trump makes his state visit later this year.
Donald Trump says ‘I love King Charles’ as monarch’s bold Commonwealth plan sparks US reaction
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a handwritten invitation from the King to Trump during a visit to the White House last month.
If accepted, the United States would become the 57th nation to join the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth is one of the world’s oldest political associations of states, with its roots in the British Empire.
It currently comprises 56 member nations with a combined population of more than 2.7 billion people.
Donald Trump wrote he ‘loves King Charles’ on Truth Social
Truth Social / Donald J. Trump
Most Commonwealth members are former British colonies, though 36 of the current members are republics.
Member states have no legal obligation to one another, though citizenship in one Commonwealth country does provide certain benefits in the UK.
The proposal was originally floated during Trump’s first term as president, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, whom Trump adored.
The plans were made by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), with the apparent backing of the late Queen, but did not come to fruition at that time.
Now, the British are reviving the plan with the hope that King Charles will personally make the case to Trump during the state visit.
The addition of the US to the Commonwealth is seen as a potential way to ease tensions between Washington and Canada amid an escalating trade dispute.
Trump has imposed tariffs on many Canadian imports and threatened to raise them even higher.
The Financial Times reported that including the US in the Commonwealth “may dampen the current conflict” with Canada.
Trump has previously expressed a desire to make Canada, a founding Commonwealth member, the “51st American state”.
A member of the Royal Commonwealth Society told the Mail: “It would be a wonderful move that would symbolise Britain’s close relationship with the US.”
The source added: “Donald Trump loves Britain and has great respect for the Royal Family, so we believe he would see the benefits of this.
“Associate membership could, hopefully, be followed by full membership, making the Commonwealth even more important as a global organisation.”
The US unilaterally declaring independence from Britain in 1776 would not be an obstacle to Commonwealth membership, according to the USA Times.
If the proposal is accepted, diplomatic relations will also change. The USA Times notes that nations within the Commonwealth appoint “high commissioners” rather than ambassadors to represent each other’s interests.
Despite America’s revolutionary origins, 36 of the Commonwealth’s current members are republics, most notably India.
