When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Washington, D.C. this week, an invitation will reportedly be extended to President Donald Trump to stay with King Charles at Balmoral. According to The Sun, which reported the news, it's understood that only one previous U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, has visited the royal residence in Scotland—President Eisenhower visited King Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth, at Balmoral in1959.
The Sun reported that a senior government source said that “Balmoral would be the obvious choice” for the 47th president "due to his Scottish heritage and two golf courses north of the border." Another insider pointed out to the outlet that the president has "already been to Windsor and Buckingham Palace, so Balmoral is being talked about."
During his first term, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle in 2018. The first couple paid a state visit to the UK the following year at the invitation of the Queen. "I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just twelve months after our first meeting at Windsor," Queen Elizabeth said at the 2019 state banquet at Buckingham Palace. "Visits by American Presidents always remind us of the close and longstanding friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship."
President Trump spoke about his "great relationship" with Queen Elizabeth during a 2019 interview with Fox & Friends. He said (via the New York Post), “I have such a great relationship, and we were laughing and having fun. And her people said she hasn’t had so much fun in 25 years. Then I got criticized for it because they said we were having too much fun."
Following Her Majesty's passing in 2022, the president paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth, calling her a "grand and beautiful lady." He also said at the time that King Charles would be a "Great and Wonderful King."
First Lady Melania revealed in her self-titled memoir that she and her husband have kept in touch with King Charles. In her book, she shared "our friendship with the Royal Family continues, and we exchange letters with King Charles to this day."
King Charles was among the monarchs who congratulated President Trump on his inauguration last month. Per HOLA! USA's sister brand HELLO!, His Majesty sent a personal message of congratulations to the 47th president of the United States, which is understood to have touched on the enduring relationship between the UK and the US.