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By Jason Lemon and Dan Gooding
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President Donald Trump suggested that the United States could join the British Commonwealth on Friday in a post to Truth Social, his social media platform.
The president shared an article from British tabloid The Sun reporting that King Charles III was making a "secret offer" to the White House, and that plans are in process for the U.S. to become an associate member of the international organization.
"I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!" Trump wrote in response to the report.
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Newsweek has reached out to the Commonwealth for comment via email Friday afternoon.
Why It Matters
The Commonwealth is primarily comprised of former British colonies or dependencies, born out of the breakup of the British Empire in the mid-20th century. Joining such a group could be seen as a different tact to Trump's other messages on groups such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (U.N.), which he has been skeptical of.
What To Know
According to The Daily Mail, the king is expected to make the offer to make the U.S. the 57th member of the Commonwealth at a time when America's relationship with the European Union (EU) has been strained over Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
The offer is being seen as a way to bolster the U.S. and United Kingdom's so-called "special relationship", despite America having famously split from British rule in the 1700s. The two countries have frequently worked together on foreign policy in the 20th and 21st centuries.
While joining the Commonwealth would largely be symbolic, as the group does not affect governance of its member nations, the move could be used to help avoid the heightened tariffs on steel and aluminum Trump has promised, according to The Daily Mail.
Trump has shown his support for the British royal family for many years and visited Buckingham Palace as part of a state visit during his first term in the White House. The idea to join the Commonwealth was first floated during that 2017-2021 term.
The king invited Trump back to the U.K. for another visit in a letter hand-delivered by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on his trip to the White House. At the meeting, Trump described King Charles III as "a beautiful man."
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What People Are Saying
King Charles III in a statement on Commonwealth Day on March 10: "In these uncertain times, where it is all too easy to believe that our differences are problems instead of a source of strength and an opportunity for learning, the Commonwealth's remarkable collection of nations and peoples come together in the spirit of support and, crucially, friendship...The Commonwealth's ability to bring together people from all over the world has stood the test of time and remains as ever-important today."
What Happens Next?
While it's not clear if the U.S. would definitely join the Commonwealth, neighbors Canada are part of the group of nations, and at a time of heightened cross-border tensions, being part of the same collective could help ease matters.
Update 3/21/25, 12:56 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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