Note: I didn’t get around to publishing this story last week during King Charles’ state visit to the US, but it’s still interesting enough to discuss!
Y’all know that the British media loves a lip-reader, right? It would not surprise me at all if several British newspapers and media outlets have lip-readers on staff. American media rarely, if ever, relies on lip-readers to decipher what any public figure is saying. So, it’s been interesting to watch as the British lip-readers make news, trying to decipher what was said during King Charles and Camilla’s US state visit. One of the biggest pieces making news was what was said between Charles and Donald Trump at their first meeting and photocall at the White House two Mondays ago. Trump was like a kid with a sugar rush, giddily gossiping to Charles about the ballroom, about the WHCD shooting and about Vladimir Putin.
King Charles III brutally shut down President Donald Trump’s ramblings as soon as the leaders met in Washington, D.C., according to a lip reader. Before the state dinners and the congressional address, before the pomp and the carefully choreographed ceremony, Trump apparently tried to accost the monarch with chat about a shooting, a nuclear threat, and a ballroom renovation. But the 77-year-old son of Queen Elizabeth II apparently wasn’t keen on engaging in such heavy topics in the first few minutes of his arrival on the South Lawn.
Nicola Hickling analyzed the footage and revealed what the two leaders whispered to each other during their opening exchange, which was inaudible to television cameras. She told Mail Online that Trump led with Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and his latest contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“This shooting…” Trump appeared to say, before the king responded, “I’d rather not stand about here too long. I feel I shouldn’t be here.”
Trump asked if Charles was OK, adding: “It’s not a good thing.” He then offered: “I wasn’t prepared, but now I am prepared.”
Trump pivoted to Putin. “So right now, I am talking to Putin,” he appeared to say. “He wants war.” Then: “I’ve got a feeling… if he did what he said, he will wipe out the population.”
The king’s response was typically measured, according to Hickling. “We will discuss that later,” he said. And when Trump pressed on, he added, “Another time.”
Trump then steered the conversation toward his White House ballroom project. “You can see right through there,” he said. “Right the way through to the ballroom. Would you like to see?” The king replied, according to Hickling: “I’m sure you shall show us.” The group was then guided inside.
By now, everyone knows that Trump is fixated on that fakakta ballroom, and reporters across the board caught sight of Trump saying the word “ballroom” soon after Charles’ arrival. I think that part of the lip-reading is a good guess, and I also think Trump was probably talking about the shooting (or whatever we’re calling it). But I do question whether Trump was immediately gossiping about Putin as soon as Charles arrived. Granted, Trump was super-giddy, as I said, like a kid with a sugar high. Anyway, this whole thing is bonkers and, as always, MAGA voters should absolutely be ashamed of this.
Lip reader reveals Trump's private warning to Charles moments after his arrival… and the King waving him off. pic.twitter.com/lwX0jWLK0K
— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) April 28, 2026
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Britain’s King Charles after his arrival for an afternoon tea at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094832794, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Suzanne Plunkett/Avalon
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- U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcome Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla on the day of an afternoon tea on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094832799, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Suzanne Plunkett/Avalon
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- U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla for afternoon tea on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094832813, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Suzanne Plunkett/Avalon
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- U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla for afternoon tea on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094832823, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Suzanne Plunkett/Avalon
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- U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla for afternoon tea at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Suzanne,Image: 1094834602, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Suzanne Plunkett/Avalon
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- WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 27: The United Kingdoms King Charles chats with President Donald Trump on Monday, April 27, 2026 at the White House in Washington, D.C. Copyright: xAllisonxRobbertx/,Image: 1094845324, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Allison Robbert / Pool via CNP /MediaPunch/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla join US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania for a tour of the White House beehives in the grounds of the White House in Washington DC, on day one of the state visit to the US. Picture date: Monday April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094913050, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla join US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania for a tour of the White House beehives in the grounds of the White House in Washington DC, on day one of the state visit to the US. Picture date: Monday April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094913103, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla join US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania for a tour of the White House beehives in the grounds of the White House in Washington DC, on day one of the state visit to the US. Picture date: Monday April 27, 2026.,Image: 1094913113, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- United States President Donald J Trump and first lady Melania Trump greet King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Queen Camilla during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on March 28, 2026. Copyright: xYurixGripasx/,Image: 1095028762, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Yuri Gripas / Pool via CNP /MediaPunch/Avalon
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- United States President Donald J Trump and King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland shake hands during a State Arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on April 28, 2026. Copyright: xYurixGripasx/,Image: 1095028911, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: imago is entitled to issue a simple usage license at the time of provision. Personality and trademark rights as well as copyright laws regarding art-works shown must be observed. Commercial use at your own risk., Model Release: no, Credit line: IMAGO/Yuri Gripas / Pool via CNP/MediaPunch/Avalon
None of this is a surprise. His diagnosed personality disorder and subsequent dementia would enable anyone to guess this behavior. F#$k us.
I didn’t need the benefit of a lip reader to know that Agent Orange was going to brag about the ballroom – it’s pretty much all he talks about recently. Charles was getting that guided tour come hell or high water, lol.
The DM seems gleeful trying to make Charles’ typically dry, British response into some “brutal shutdown”, but I don’t think it can be called that if the intended recipient is oblivious to it. 47 pays his guest absolutely no mind, he’s probably not even listening, just trying to get to his turn to speak so he can show off his tacky designs. He’s a buffoon.
“Lip reading” is a sham. People see what they want to see, and people believe the lip readers if they want to believe.
I want the lipreaders to tackle a different moment from that visit. Charles and Camilla were on the lawn for a reception and Trump’s cabinet + Suzy Wiles are standing in a line to receive the royals. Camilla is going down the line shaking the hands of Trump’s top people, Vance and Rubio at the start of the line. Camilla gets halfway down and Trump butts his *** right in front of Camilla to take over …shaking his own damn staff’s hands? Wtf did he say to excuse his sundowning arse?
Site-friendly source https://www.buzzfeed.com/kelley_greene/donald-trump-queen-camilla-handshake
Trump is a bloviating, indiscreet asshole. I’d be surprised if he didn’t tell Charles some state secrets, too. Trump is such a nasty, out-of-control idiot.