In a show of international unity, King Charles III of the United Kingdom reportedly sent a private letter to ex-President Donald Trump after the assassination attempt during a political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The contents of the letter, sent through the UK Embassy in Washington, D.C., have not been publicly disclosed by Buckingham Palace.
The life-threatening incident at the rally took place on the night of July 13, 2024. A shooter discharged a firearm into the crowd, with a bullet narrowly missing Trump’s head, instead grazing his ear. Unbowed by the pandemonium, Trump responded to the ordeal with defiance, raising a bloodied fist toward the spectators. “Had I not turned to look at the screen at that exact moment, we would not be talking today,” Trump mentioned in an interview. The bullet wound left Trump in shock, but his resolve remained unwavering.
The perpetrator of the attack, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was neutralized by Secret Service agents at the scene. The fallout from the violent attack included the death of rally participant Corey Comperatore and critical injuries to two others.
The sentiments echoed in King Charles’s undisclosed letter are in line with the stance of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who denounced the violent act and extended his sympathies to Trump and the families of the victims. Starmer stressed, “Political violence in any form has no place in our societies,” a sentiment shared by world leaders, including President Joe Biden.
The cordial relationship between King Charles and Trump has been evident before. During Trump’s tenure as president, then-Prince Charles hosted Trump and his wife, Melania, for an afternoon tea session at Clarence House. Trump’s admiration for the King was seen earlier this year when he publicly offered prayers for Charles’s speedy recovery from cancer.
The personal letter from King Charles, although confidential, stands as a symbol of shared concern and humanity that transcends political borders. This act from the King underscores the importance of global solidarity in times of crisis and the enduring relationship between the UK and the US.
