In an unprecedented gesture of solidarity, King Charles III has written a private letter to former President Donald Trump following an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The letter, dispatched via the UK Embassy in Washington, D.C., remains confidential, as Buckingham Palace has chosen not to disclose its contents.
The attempt on Trump’s life occurred on Saturday evening, July 13, 2024, when a gunman opened fire at the rally, grazing Trump’s ear. Despite the chaos, Trump remained defiant, raising a bloodied fist to the crowd. “Had I not turned to look at the screen at that exact moment, we would not be talking today,” Trump stated in an interview. The bullet, which pierced his ear, left Trump in shock but determined.
The gunman, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot and killed by Secret Service agents on the scene. Tragically, one rally attendee, Corey Comperatore, lost his life, and two others were critically injured. The FBI is investigating the incident, and initial reports indicate that Crooks acted alone.
King Charles’s message aligns with sentiments expressed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who condemned the violence and extended his condolences to Trump and the victims’ families. Starmer emphasized that “political violence in any form has no place in our societies,” echoed by global leaders, including President Joe Biden. Biden called for Americans to “lower the temperature in our politics” and expressed gratitude that Trump was safe.
The bond between King Charles and Trump has been noted in the past. During Trump’s presidency, then-Prince Charles hosted Trump and his wife, Melania, for tea at Clarence House. Trump’s respect for the King was evident earlier this year when he publicly expressed his prayers for Charles’s swift recovery from cancer.
As Trump prepares to speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this week, his message is expected to shift towards national unity. He has announced plans to revise his speech to address the nation’s growing political divide. “We must come together as a country,” Trump stated, underscoring the need for a collective effort to move past the violence.
King Charles’s letter, though private, symbolizes a moment of shared humanity and concern transcending political boundaries. The King’s gesture reflects the importance of international solidarity in times of crisis, reinforcing the longstanding relationship between the UK and the US.
