FlyTheNest

As the King and Queen hosted a garden party for 650 guests at the British Ambassador’s residence, which sits adjacent to the Vice President’s home on Washington’s Embassy Row, reporters were keeping a close eye on Trump’s social media feed for any fresh expression of anti-Starmer sentiment.

That none was forthcoming suggests that efforts to persuade Trump to button his lip during the four day state visit at least passed the first hurdle. But if a week is a long time in politics, for the bilateral relationship the next three days could be an eternity.

Invitees at the garden party (where sandwiches were offered featuring Scottish Smoked Salmon with a lemon-pepper butter or British beef with horseradish) came from across the political, diplomatic and social spectrum. Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, seemed almost struck dumb when the King was introduced to him. Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas raced to post pictures of himself with the monarch on his social media feed.

For a country celebrating the 250th anniversary of its decision to break away from the UK, and with “No Kings” protests providing a regular ongoing commentary on the Trump presidency, it’s an odd look to see politicians from both parties eager to tie themselves to the actual King’s apron strings.

But for the UK’s head of state, modest opportunity may be knocking to nudge a beleaguered Trump into putting the relationship with London on a more positive trajectory.