00:00Talk a bit about this royal visit and sort of what your expectations are for it, the reason that it's
00:04happening now, and as we see a less than good relationship, I think, between the president and the prime minister,
00:09his affection for the royal family, the president's affection for the royal family, has been palpable over these last many
00:14years.
00:14This is an important visit for him, for the president. I'm curious how, from the other side of the Atlantic,
00:19they're viewing this moment.
00:20Well, it's not that long since we had President Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the UK, right? So we've
00:26had a few interactions, the late queen, this king, and now the king coming here.
00:31The reason for the visit is the forthcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. So it is that which
00:39was the spur for it.
00:40But of course, it's coming at a moment where not only the United States is engaged in conflict, even though
00:47we are in a ceasefire period at the moment, but also he has been very, very rude about the prime
00:55minister and about UK military capability and about the UK in general at that time.
00:59So in that sense, from the UK government and diplomacy's point of view, it's welcome to have a kind of
01:05moment which reminds the president that there is at least a special relationship for him personally with the United States
01:12because of his mother's, with the United Kingdom, because of his mother's heritage, and the idea that in the period
01:18that the king's here, that he can do some of that diplomatic work.
01:21And frankly, he's been a diplomat all his life. But on top of that, it's also personally, there is an
01:29awkwardness for the king because of the call for him to meet Epstein survivors and the connection that his brother
01:34had with the late Jeffrey Epstein.
01:37So there are all those layers that make this a tricky visit in many ways. It's going to be a
01:42short visit, and everyone involved will be hoping that it goes off completely smoothly.
01:47We have to go to break, but I do want to ask you very quickly in about 30 seconds, what
01:51is the king's security? I apologize that I don't know. I know they do have security, but is it a
01:56secret service equivalent? And when they're here, are they going to be relying a lot on U.S. assets?
02:00I think the way it works in any host country is that the host country is in the forefront. I
02:04think it's a bit difficult for, different for Americans when the American president goes elsewhere.
02:08It's clearly a secret service.
02:11But normally it's the other way around.
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