King Charles writes to Donald Trump after assassination attempt

King Charles writes to Donald Trump after assassination attempt

Legend, The former Prince of Wales and Mr Trump outside the US ambassador’s residence in London during a state visit in 2019

  • Author, Ian Aikman
  • Role, BBC News

The king wrote privately to former President Trump after he survived an assassination attempt, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The message was delivered on Sunday via the British Embassy in Washington DC.

The contents of the letter have not been made public, but the BBC understands the sentiments match those communicated by the Prime Minister over the weekend.

Mr Trump survived a shooting while speaking at a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday.

US Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “appalled” by the attack. In a phone call with the former US president on Sunday afternoon, Sir Keir reportedly expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, and wished Mr Trump and the injured a speedy recovery.

The former president was shot in the ear when a gunman opened fire at the Philadelphia rally.

One bystander was killed and two others were seriously injured. The suspected gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead at the scene.

Mr Trump, who raised his fist to the crowd as he bled after the shooting, told the New York Post he was “supposed to be dead” and described the assassination attempt as a “surreal experience”.

He is scheduled to speak this week at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is expected to be formally confirmed as the party’s nominee for president in November.

Mr Trump said he had rewritten his speech following the shooting and would use it to “bring the country together”.

Legend, Trump raised his fist as he was rushed off stage, bleeding from his ear

British politicians continued to condemn the attack on Monday.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Breakfast she was “horrified and angry” by the assassination attempt and added it was “encouraging” to see so many world leaders joining in the condemnation.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell told Sky News the shooting was “an appalling act of violence and viciousness” which was “rightly condemned by everyone for what it is”.

In 2019, as Prince of Wales, Charles hosted then-President Trump and his wife Melania for afternoon tea at Clarence House during a NATO summit in London.

The late Queen Elizabeth hosted a state banquet for Mr Trump during a state visit to the UK earlier that year.