President Donald Trump has suggested that he would support the United States becoming an “associate member” of the Commonwealth, citing his admiration for King Charles III. The proposal, which has reportedly been discussed at the highest levels, was initiated by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), an independent charity that hopes to invite the U.S. to join as an official affiliate of the Commonwealth.
Trump shared his thoughts on the matter via his Truth Social platform, linking to a story from The Sun with the headline, “King Charles to make ‘secret offer’ to Donald Trump during State visit.” The former president responded enthusiastically, stating, “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”
Historic Relationship Between Britain and America
The United States and Britain share deep historical ties, dating back to 1607 when Britain established its first permanent colony in Jamestown, Virginia. Over the next 150 years, the British founded Thirteen Colonies along the East Coast, including Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. During this period, the British Crown imposed taxes, trade regulations, and governance until tensions escalated, leading to the American Declaration of Independence in 1776. As the 250th anniversary of this milestone approaches next year, discussions about rekindling formal ties through the Commonwealth are generating interest.
The former president has been invited to visit King Charles III in Scotland later this year, with Balmoral or Dumfries House expected to serve as the meeting venue. A full state visit is also anticipated. During a recent meeting at the White House, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer handed Trump a letter from the King, to which he responded:
“The answer is yes. We look forward to being there and honoring the King and honoring your country. Your country is a fantastic country, and it’ll be our honor to be there.”
He went on to praise King Charles III, describing him as a “beautiful man, a wonderful man.”
The Commonwealth is currently made up of 56 member countries, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire. While the last four nations to join—Mozambique, Rwanda, Gabon, and Togo—have no historic British ties, new members must generally have a historic constitutional association with an existing Commonwealth member.
A country applying for membership must meet key eligibility requirements, including:
- Being a democratic nation
- Maintaining transparent governance and public accountability
- Upholding human rights protections
- Acknowledging the King as the Head of the Commonwealth
The Commonwealth Secretariat, the official governing body, is responsible for assessing applications. Prospective countries must first submit an expression of interest before undergoing an informal assessment by the Commonwealth Secretary-General. If successful, the application is then reviewed by Commonwealth Heads of Government, who meet every two years.
The idea of the United States joining the Commonwealth, even as an associate member, has sparked mixed reactions from political analysts and historians. Some argue that the U.S. left British rule to establish its own sovereignty, making the move highly symbolic but unlikely to hold any binding legal or political significance. Others believe that closer ties with the Commonwealth could strengthen diplomatic and economic relations with its member states.
A source quoted in the Daily Mail stated that the proposal is being explored, though it remains unclear whether the British Government or Buckingham Palace is formally involved in the discussions. The RCS, which is leading the initiative, has yet to issue an official statement.
Beyond the United States, the RCS has been actively working to expand Commonwealth membership. Recently, it launched a “Nordic-Baltic Hub” to encourage Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden to join the Commonwealth network. The organization has also opened an office in Ireland to engage with potential new members.
While Trump’s enthusiasm signals potential interest in deepening U.S.-Commonwealth relations, formal negotiations have yet to begin. Whether the U.S. formally expresses interest in joining as an associate member will depend on future discussions between American and British diplomatic officials.
With Trump’s upcoming visit to the UK, all eyes will be on his meeting with King Charles III and whether these discussions take on a more formal shape.
