Almost 250 years after the U.S. declared independence from Britain, former President Donald Trump hinted at openness to reestablishing a symbolic connection with the British monarchy. A media report suggested that King Charles III is considering offering the U.S. “associate membership” in the Commonwealth of Nations, a 56-country alliance largely made up of former British colonies. Trump shared the article on Truth Social, commenting, “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had personally delivered the King’s hand-written invitation to Trump during a recent White House visit. A Royal Commonwealth Society representative reported that discussions are happening at high levels, describing potential U.S. membership as a symbolic move reinforcing U.K.-U.S. ties. They suggested that Trump, known for his admiration of Britain and the Royal Family, might see the advantages, with associate membership potentially leading to full membership in the future.
Such a move could also help King Charles ease tensions between Washington, London, and Ottawa, which have been strained by Trump’s stance on Canada—a founding Commonwealth member where the King remains head of state. Trump has frequently floated the idea of making Canada the 51st U.S. state, stirring controversy among Canadians, particularly given his history of trade disputes and tariffs on Canadian imports.
If the U.S. were to join the Commonwealth, even in an associate capacity, diplomatic protocols would shift. Instead of ambassadors, Washington, Ottawa, and London would exchange “high commissioners” as Commonwealth nations do. The Commonwealth, rooted in Britain’s post-World War II decolonization efforts, includes mostly former British colonies and dominions, with Canada being the first member.
