UK officials fear ‘Zelensky-style clash’ between Trump and King Charles – Guardian

Planners of the royal’s visit to the White House reportedly want to avoid potentially “humiliating” incidents UK officials have pushed to bar journalists from a meeting between King Charles III and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, out of concern over potentially embarrassing incidents, The Guardian reported on Tuesday, citing people involved in planning the monarch’s trip to Washington. According to the newspaper, the White House agreed that any meeting between the two leaders should be held off camera to avoid what it described as “potential humiliation.” Trump and Charles would pose for photographs but would not be filmed “talking about anything substantive.” UK officials reportedly wanted to avoid a repeat of a “Zelensky-style clash,” referring to the infamous White House meeting between Trump and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in February 2025, which ended in a shouting match in front of the press. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance publicly berated Zelensky, accusing him of being ungrateful for the aid his country had received under the previous US administration.

Relations between Trump and Zelensky were eventually repaired after several European leaders reportedly advised Zelensky on how to handle himself with the president. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the US on Tuesday and posed for photographs with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the U.K. at the South Portico of the White House | Monday, April 27, 2026. pic.twitter.com/eLrNqpwN0D — Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) April 27, 2026 The visit comes two days after a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. The suspect, identified as Cole Thomas Allen, allegedly tried to rush toward the ballroom where Trump was seated but was tackled by Secret Service agents.