Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly less than impressed with Donald Trump during his 2018 state visit to the United Kingdom. While Trump was still serving as President of the United States, his behavior allegedly left a lasting negative impression on the British monarch.
In his new book, A Voyage Around The Queen, royal author Craig Brown delves into the Queen’s interactions with various controversial foreign leaders throughout her reign. The list includes figures such as Bashar al-Assad, Robert Mugabe, Idi Amin, Emperor Hirohito, Vladimir Putin, and, of course, Donald Trump, as reported by MailOnline.
Brown suggests that while the Queen may not have found their company particularly enjoyable, she typically maintained a polite demeanor during their visits. However, Trump’s visit appears to have been an exception. “A few weeks after President Trump’s visit, for instance, she confided in one lunch guest that she found him ‘very rude,'” Brown reveals in his book.
The Queen’s irritation with Trump extended beyond his demeanor; she was reportedly puzzled by his relationship with his wife, Melania. Brown notes, “She also believed President Trump ‘must have some sort of arrangement’ with his wife Melania, or else why would she have remained married to him?”
Despite the Queen’s apparent displeasure, Trump seemed convinced that he had left a positive impression. According to Brown, Trump was confident that he had been one of the Queen’s favorite guests—a belief that starkly contrasts with the Queen’s reported private sentiments.
This account adds a new layer of insight into the often scrutinized and publicized relationship between the British monarchy and visiting political figures, particularly in the context of Trump’s highly-rated and controversial visit.