Donald Trump has insisted that King Charles’ state visit to the United States will go ahead next week, after it emerged that his security was being reviewed following an attack on a Washington dinner attended by the president on Saturday night.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was thrown into chaos on Saturday night after a gunman attempted to storm the venue, prompting the US president to be swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of his administration.
Speaking to Fox News on Sunday about the King’s state visit – which is due to take place next week – Mr Trump said: “He’s coming and we’re going to have a great time.”
He added: “He’s a great guy, and we look forward to it. He’s really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative, and he’s brave.
“We’re gonna have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it.”
It came after a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that discussions will be taking place throughout the day with US colleagues to review “what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit”.
Speaking about the attempted attack, chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told Sky News: “As you would imagine, with His Majesty the King, this week our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.”
Asked by the BBC whether further security measures will be put in place ahead of the visit, Mr Jones said: “As you would imagine, the government and the Palace were in close cooperation with American counterparts in advance of the visit anyway, and further discussions will be taking place today, ahead of next week.”
Pressed on the issue, he said: “There will be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk, yes.”
It is understood that the King and Queen have reached out privately to the US president and first lady to express their sympathies with all those affected on the night and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.
Meanwhile, the prime minister, who has had an increasingly fractious relationship with the US president as a result of the UK’s refusal to be dragged into the Iran war, sent a message to Mr Trump “in solidarity” after the incident.
The pair spoke on the phone on Sunday afternoon, a Downing Street spokesperson said, adding that the prime minister “extended his best wishes to the president and first lady following the shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner”.
“He expressed his relief that the president and first lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured”, the spokesperson said.
In a statement on social media, Sir Keir added: “I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington overnight.
“Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that [the President], the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”
The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.
The president posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention, and described him as a “lone wolf whack job”.
Mr Trump – who was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president – vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had “unified” political opponents and the media.
The state visit, which begins at the end of the month, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US, with Charles and Camilla marking the milestone at a “block party”.
The first time Charles and Camilla will meet the president and the first lady will be at a private tea, captured by cameras only.
Later, Mr Trump and the King will sit down for talks in the White House’s famous Oval Office while Camilla and Melania Trump take part in an event together.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed.
“As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.”
