The Royals with Roya and Kate - Former Trump adviser on the President, the King and a tense state visit

Episode Date: April 28, 2026

As the King lands in Washington for a high-stakes US state visit, former US National Security Adviser John Bolton joins Roya Nikkhah and Kate Mansey to examine the real state of the 'special relationship'. He reveals why Donald Trump is drawn to the royal family, describing his UK visits as some of the happiest moments of his presidency, and explains why that personal connection could matter more than traditional diplomacy. So, can the King can influence Trump? Or does the monarchy risks being pulled into political controversy at a particularly tense moment.Image: GettyProducer: Robert WallaceExecutive Producer: Priyanka Deladia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to the Royals from America. I'm Royne Nicar. And I'm Kate Manzi. The king and queen have just touched down in Washington, D.C. for one of the most delicate and closely watched visits of the King's reign so far. And it all comes at an extraordinary moment against the backdrop of war in Iran. Real strain in the special relationship and now just days after an assassination attempt on the US President Donald Trump. So in this special episode, we're stepping in. to the machinery at this moment. How does Buckingham Palace and the White House manage a visit like this? And what Royal Diplomacy looks like when the stakes are this high? Tomorrow we'll be back with full reaction to the King's address to Congress and what the Trump administration hopes will be a showstopper in the White House State dinner.

But before that, we want to bring you a special interview with Ambassador John Bolton, former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump in his first term, and previously America's Ambassador to the United Nations. He told us about the real state of the special relationship, why it's strained, but perhaps not broken, and what it's really like dealing with the president behind closed doors. Ambassador Bolton, welcome to the Royals. Thank you so much for joining us. So it's all things go for the state visit. And it's coming in a particularly tense time, I think, between the White House and Downing Street. We have had weeks, if not months. of missiles fired from the White House to Sarkir Stama.

From your perspective as a former national security advisor to President Trump, what do you think is the real state at the moment of the special relationship? Do we still have a special relationship, or is that phrase pretty redundant now? Oh, I think there's still a special relationship. I think it has forever not depended just on the personal relations of the two leaders, although at the moment they're pretty grim, that's for sure. But I think that everybody on both sides sees the king's visit as a way of smoothing over, at least on the surface, some of the problems. I don't think that will be easy with Donald Trump.

Nothing ever is. But I don't think the special relationship is in jeopardy because of Trump. I think it's being damaged. But the relationship is founded on much more enduring realities than just what the two leaders think. Do you think Ambassador Bolton that we still carry weight in terms of when Washington and the president makes a decision on the global stage? To what extent is he still looking to the UK to see whether or not we go along with it? I mean, obviously that has been stress tested to the max over Iran. But on a wider scheme, things like, you know, business and defense, these are all the things that our ambassador is saying is the whole focus of this visit.

How much note is the US actually giving the UK these days? Well, Donald Trump doesn't give note to anybody other than himself. I mean, that's what the world is all about to him. But I think the special relationship, certainly in governmental terms, works all throughout the government at all levels up and down. And it's a commonality of interest, values, history, that are linkages that don't vary with who holds the top political job in each country. And that is, I think, what people have to try and keep in mind. However difficult it looks at the moment, there have been other days. difficult moments and they've been overcome and there have been excellent moments that haven't

necessarily been sustained. So there's no constant that you can refer to. Trump makes it more difficult because he likes, for reasons the psychiatrist can tell us about, he likes authoritarian leaders and has trouble with democratically elected leaders. But maybe since the King's authority doesn't derive from election, maybe he'll have a little bit extra to add here. But you've worked with him so closely. You know, you worked with President Trump, you advised him, you've been in the room with him, you know the measure of the man. What is it about the royals that you think really kind of captivates? Because he doesn't take note of world leaders, as you've said, he runs his own ship very much on the world stage. But there is this extra special thing, isn't there, about monarchy for him? What is it, is it that kind of king-like aspect that so enthralls him, do you think? Well, he thinks being a king is pretty cool, and from time to time he would call Jijun Ping King, because he thought he kind of acted that way. His mother was Scottish, so I think there's something there. I can tell you from the two visits that he had in the UK with Queen Elizabeth,

when I was serving in the White House, one at Windsor Castle, and then the state dinner at Buckingham Palace, it was the two best days of Trump's 17 months that I spent with him. He couldn't have been happier with both events. In fact, we joked that when the state dinner at Buckingham Palace was over, we didn't think we'd be able to get him out. It looked like he wanted to spend the night. So he will definitely, I think, try to make the visit a smooth one with King Charles, and we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope that it works.

But of course, he did get to stay overnight, didn't he, in September, when he came for that unprecedented second state visit, a kind of an honor that's never been bestowed on another U.S. presidents. other visits, of course, but not two state visits. But I think it's interesting now, isn't it, that the king is here to mark 250th anniversary of breaking away from the monarchy. And here you have this chance that the monarch can be the one to save the relationship between the two countries. I mean, what do you make of this moment in time with regards to the king's ability to bring the countries back together? Well, I wouldn't overstate what he can do,

given the constitutional limits on the king's authority. He's not here to negotiate. I don't think, although it's my view that the conversations that presidents and British monarchs have do go into matters that people don't often talk about in public. And, you know, if we can avoid a press conference in the Oval Office and the way Volodymyr Zelensky was treated in February of 2021, that'll go a long way. I don't know how that's going to work. I can't imagine Trump having a typical press conference with the King sitting in front of the fireplace in the Oval Office, especially after the events of Saturday night. But I suppose it's possible. I think the better outcome is just that the King gives an important speech to a joint meeting of Congress. I think that will be whatever

is going to be said politically will be said there. And hopefully the rest of it will be history and culture. Ambassador Bolton, you obviously were with President Trump for that 2019 visit. And you talked about how, you know, people weren't sure if they could get President Trump out to the palace because he is so keen on all things royal. I mean, I'm just remembering in the run-up to his last election, he was flying around the world with his photo album of royal photos and showing them to all the press. And, you know, incredibly proud of his time

with the late Queen Elizabeth, with the king, constantly wanting to spend time with William. He saw him in Paris before at the opening of Notre Dame. What is it, do you think, about our royal family that has so much allure for him? Does he think it gives him, it sort of burnishes his credentials? Yeah, I think that's part of it. I mean, it's hard to know exactly where he acquired this interest in the rural family, as I say,

but perhaps from his mother. Lots of Americans of all different sizes and shapes have connections with the UK. And so it is just because of history. I think it fascinates a lot of people in the United States. But why, in this case, more than others, I don't know. I have advised other countries that have monarchs that if they run into trouble with Trump, that they should really invite Trump for a state visit to meet their king or queen or have them come over here.

We'll see if it extends beyond the UK. I'm not sure. It worked with the emperor of Japan also when Trump paid a state visit there when I served in the White House. We had just last year when the relationship between Secure Stama and Donald Trump looked pretty secure and very warm with that flourish of a letter that was produced inviting Trump for the state visit last year. things have completely frozen over and in that respect to that relationship, they only seem to have plummeting personal ratings

in common at the moment. Who do you think is looking to get more out of this visit? Is it Trump and his administration? Does he think it's going to bring him a little bit of royal status or is it the UK government? Well, I think it's both. I think what Trump wants to do

is show that we can do pop in circumstance too. I don't know, compared to the UK, we'll have to watch. But he clearly regards this is something he wants to be successful. And so unlike a visit with Kirst, armor, for example, where he may not care whether it looks successful or not, I do think he will try and show his gracious side, and he may even be able to do it.

The UK government always say the king travels on the advice of the UK government, the palace are always at pains to point out that the king is beyond politics, he's above politics, but of course we've heard Trump say, you know, I'm going to bring up all these different subjects with the king, he's my friend, he'll understand. He seems to think that the king would have backed him over Iran. He has this idea of this friendship that seems to co-exist sort of alongside the relationship with the UK. But it seems to me that they might have a lovely time. Trump will meet the King. It will be useful for Trump, who, let's face it, you know, is running quite low in opinion polls here. I think there's approval rating is down to 33%. You can see

what Trump has to gain from it. What do you think politically the UK Prime Minister can win from this trip. Well, I think if Trump comes away with warm feelings, that that in and of itself is a victory. And, you know, we don't have a distinction here between head of state and head of government. Trump is both. Presidents always have been. So the distinction, while clear to people in other countries, is not at all clear to most people in the United States. It will confuse Trump, and he won't, I'd be surprised if he limited his conversation. A lot depends on the monarch. My take on Queen Elizabeth was that she got Trump to talk about what she wanted to talk about and did it in a way that Trump really didn't fully appreciate

whether King Charles can do that or not. I don't know. It sounds to me like he can. And remember, that Trump sees international relations through the prism of his personal relations with foreign leaders. So if the king can come and leave Trump with a warm feeling that they've got a great friendship going,

that will be the plus. But that's it. You've just hit the net on the head, I must have built him, because we all were quite intrigued that, you know, after his reelection ahead of him beginning his second term, when he went to Paris for the reopening of Notre Dame and Prince William was effectively summoned to see him and off he went to see him, the first person he saw before he was back in the White House was not Sir Kier's Dahmer. It was a member of the royal family. And that felt very deliberate and quite pointed.

It's almost like he views the special relationship as with the royal family. It's a different way of running it rather than with our government. That's right. But I think presidents have often seen the Crown Prince when they've come to Washington or in that case Paris. I remember Prince Charles visiting with President Reagan in the Oval Office, and that was considered a big deal. So I think it's sort of natural that Trump would be attracted. I mean, when the state visit in 2019 took place, we were all privileged those of us traveling with the president to meet everybody in the rural family, which was a kick for all of us. But Prince William is an engaging fellow. And as his wife. And so I wouldn't be surprised that Trump was attracted to them too.

Well, he's apparently very keen to invite them over for July 4th celebration. Make everything you can out of it. And that's what I'm just ask you, what do you make of, we've had a lot of calls in the UK from heavyweight diplomats, members of parliament, Emily Thornberry, who's on our Foreign Affairs Select Committee, to Peter Westmacott we had on the podcast a few weeks ago, of course, the King's former private secretary, our former ambassador to the US, saying that this visit really should have been delayed that by sending the king and queen at a time when America is waging war in Iran, a very controversial war, it might look as if the royal family and the monarchy, you know,

sanctions that war we've had Donald Trump make comments in a recent interview saying, well, the king would have backed me over Iran in the way that Kostom hasn't. Is there a risk there, do you think? Well, I think, look, there's always a risk with Trump, but the fact is Britain should be with us in this war. And so sure the rest of Europe while we're on the subject. But I don't think that alone will be enough. Trump will probably say the King completely agreed with me. That may or may not have any resemblance to the truth. With regards to security ambassador, obviously that's on minds a lot this week given the attack at the Hilton, Washington, the White House correspondent's dinner. You know, we've got an alleged gunman in court this week. What do you make of the security

surrounding the King? Do you think this changes the nature of these types of visits when everything has to be so locked down? You know, we've seen in Washington, D.C., there's a huge security journalists have to go through really extreme measures to get into, to have this access. Do you think it changes the nature of these trips? Well, I think everybody's going to be on heightened alert. There's no doubt about it after the events of Saturday night. And I don't know the King's full schedule, but most of it is on federal property at the White House in Congress. And so those are among the most secure locations in town. I don't anticipate there's going to be any difficulty, there'll be a lot of inconvenience for the residents of Washington and wherever

else the King may be going. But I think people are used to that. But does it put the public at arm's length from these sorts of events? Or do you think this feels like an administration that's made for TV anyway? So perhaps that doesn't matter. Yeah, I don't, I don't know what the King, as I say, I don't know what the King's specific plans are. But I remember having gone to the Garden Party at the British Embassy in 1991 when in the first Bush administration, when Queen Elizabeth came. She was escorted through the garden by this cordon of Royal Navy officers dressed in their white uniforms. They formed what they called the Icebreaker V around her. She never got within about five feet of anybody in the garden party, but we all got a chance to wave at her.

Mentioned our Master Bolton earlier that the late Queen Elizabeth had a very cany knack of getting Trump to talk about the things she wanted to. She was the arch diplomat, brilliant at her job there. There was a bit of an incident, a bit of a diplomatic incident after that visit, where Kim Darrick, our ambassador at the time, made some slightly less than complimentary comments about Donald Trump in private correspondence that was later leaked. I think he described the president's government as dysfunctional, inept and divided in letters. Donald Trump got really quite cross about that and let it be known he was quite cross about that. The Queen was reportedly the one who smooth things over. Was that the kind of experience you had often? I mean, is he someone who's personally

slighted quite often? And what, if anything, can kiss? Dama Lern from that? Well, I was, I think the recipient of the first presidential phone call after this story about Kim Daraq's cables came out in the press. What was that like? He wanted Daraq out immediately, period, close quote. And there wasn't any ambiguity in what he said. Let me put it that way. So I called Mark Sedwell, who at that point was my opposite number and said, we've got a problem here. And ultimately, Daraq was called back. I think the fury was directed at Kim Darok and not at the UK. It's, as I say, these things are personal to Trump.

And it may well be that the Queen was able to say something to help smooth it over. I think with Trump, it's also the case that sometimes he can blow very hot and 15 minutes later, not remember what it was all about. He doesn't wear criticism very well, does he? And you've hardly been a kind of cheerleader for the MAGA movement, yourself, Ambassador. Can you tell me whether you think what history will make of this royal visit? Will the royal family look back and think, did they do the right thing here? Will the government look back in the UK and think it was a bit of an embarrassment, do you think? Well, I'll go out on a limb. I think it's going to go fine. I don't know what the lasting impact that will be other than with Trump himself. I thought at the time that Kier Starrmer waved the letter in the Oval Office and handed it to Trump. it was a brilliant maneuver to start off their relationship. In hindsight, maybe he should have

kept that card in his back pocket and brought it out a little bit later. But if this turns out, well, I think that is good for the relationship. The real question is on the British side, how long is Kirste-Tarmer going to be prime minister? Well, that's the thing, isn't it? We don't know. And it may not be for very much longer. But the king and his son, you know, that continues. And I think that's that kind of power and that dynasty is something that plays well, not just for Trump, but in America too. Well, if Prince Williams coming for the 4th of July, that'd be great. Happy 250th. Fantastic. Well, thank you so much for sharing your memories and your expertise with us.

Thank you so much for joining us. Ambassador Bolton. My pleasure. Thanks for having you. This week on the Royal's podcast. Mr. President, the bond between our two nations is indeed a remarkable. We're in Washington for an historic state visit. I do look forward to seeing the king. But from friction in the special relations, Unfortunately, Keir is not Winston Churchill.

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