Donald Trump Expresses Support for U.S. Joining British Commonwealth: 'I Love King Charles'

President Donald Trump made a surprising comment about joining the British Commonwealth nearly 250 years after the United States declared its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776.

Trump raised eyebrows with a Truth Social post on Friday, March 21, sharing a link to an article from The Sun, which claimed that King Charles will make a “secret offer” during Trump’s upcoming state visit to the U.K.

According to the report, the British monarch will offer to make the U.S. an "associate member" of the Commonwealth. The voluntary association is currently made up of 56 countries, most formerly under British rule, of which King Charles is the ceremonial head.

"This is being discussed at the highest levels,” a source claimed to the Daily Mail. "It would be a wonderful move that would symbolize Britain's close relationship with the U.S…Donald Trump loves Britain and has great respect for the royal family, so we believe he would see the benefits of this."

It was suggested that the addition of the U.S. to the Commonwealth might also ease tensions between Trump and Canada, which is also a member.

The president posted the article to his Truth Social page, writing, “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!” 

Buckingham Palace has not commented on the report. PEOPLE has reached out to both the palace and the White House for comment.

Membership in the Commonwealth of Nations is a matter for the Commonwealth Secretariat rather than King Charles. The process and eligibility criteria are outlined on their website.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended the invitation for Trump’s unprecedented second state visit when he visited the White House in February. During a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump accepted the invitation on the spot.

"I think that just symbolizes the strength of the relationship between us,” the prime minister told reporters. “I think the last state visit was a tremendous success. His Majesty the King wants to make this visit even better than that, so this is truly historic. An unprecedented second state visit, he wants to talk that through with you."

“The answer is yes, on behalf of our wonderful first lady, Melania, and myself, the answer is yes," Trump replied. "We look forward to being there and honoring the King, honoring your country. Your country is a fantastic country, and it will be an honor to be there."

The dates of the state visit have yet to be announced.

While Trump is a fan of King Charles, his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth, reportedly wasn't a big fan. In the 2024 documentary The Cowboy and the Queen, Queen Elizabeth’s friend Monty Roberts said she “didn’t like” Trump.

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That same year, a biography on the late monarch, A Voyage Around the Queen, reinforced that claim.

"A few weeks after President Trump's visit, for instance, she confided in one lunch guest that she found him 'very rude,’ ” wrote Craig Brown. “She particularly disliked the way he couldn't stop looking over her shoulder, as though in search of others more interesting.”