CSPAN - Washington Journal Garret Martin
Aired: 2026-04-27
Duration: 33:59


=== Royal Visit Challenges (14:56) ===

[00:00:00]  Bringing your democracy unfiltered.
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[00:00:12]  King Charles and Queen Camilla are heading to the U.S. for a four-day state visit beginning today.
[00:00:18]  During their trip, the King will address a joint session of Congress.
[00:00:22]  And President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host the royal couple at a state dinner at the White House.
[00:00:27]  The visit also includes stops in New York and Virginia, where they'll take part in a block party celebrating America's 250th birthday.
[00:00:34]  Don't miss live coverage of the Royal State Visit beginning today on the C-SPAN networks.
[00:00:42]  Welcome back to the program.
[00:00:43]  Joining us now is Garrett Martin.
[00:00:45]  He is a senior professorial lecturer at American University and co-director at the Transatlantic Policy Center.
[00:00:52]  Garrett, welcome to the program.
[00:00:53]  Thank you for having me.
[00:00:54]  So the royals arrived today.
[00:00:57]  We are hearing that they are set to greet President Trump at 4.15 a p.m. later this afternoon.
[00:01:03]  What's at stake in this visit?
[00:01:05]  It is definitely high stakes and high opportunities for the visit of the king.
[00:01:10]  Obviously, the context of relations between the United States and the United Kingdom are challenging.
[00:01:15]  They're difficult.
[00:01:17]  There are pressures both at home for the king as well as obviously difficult relations with the United States.
[00:01:23]  And this trip of four days will be heavily scrutinized.
[00:01:27]  And the Reuters is saying that the U.S.-UK relationship is at the lowest point it has been in 70 years over this Iran war.
[00:01:37]  Talk about the timing first of the King's visit.
[00:01:41]  Well, obviously, it's in a very important moment celebrating the 250th anniversary since the American independence.
[00:01:49]  It is also a major state visit for the King.
[00:01:53]  It's coming at a time indeed, as you mentioned, where there have been a number of areas where the United States and the United Kingdom have been at odds.
[00:02:01]  Obviously, Iran is the most recent, but there have been differences over trade.
[00:02:05]  There have been frustration over Greenland.
[00:02:07]  There have been comments made by the President that have not been well received in the UK over the service of British soldiers in Afghanistan.
[00:02:16]  So there's really an accumulation of areas where the relationship is facing some challenges.
[00:02:21]  There is a history, but there are also some current challenges.
[00:02:24]  So is that why the king is here really to repair that relationship?
[00:02:28]  And how do we know will it be repaired?
[00:02:31]  Is it just kind of getting on President Trump's good side?
[00:02:35]  Yes, I think it's four days would not be enough in itself to try and address the more deep differences that are currently affecting London and Washington, but certainly it can help.
[00:02:45]  I think it can buy time, it can buy some goodwill, and that's certainly important.
[00:02:49]  It can also change the narrative so that we move away from the issues that divide both sides to focus also on kind of the common foundations that have kept the two countries together.
[00:03:00]  You know, President Trump has criticized Prime Minister Kier Starmer quite a bit as you kind of alluded to.
[00:03:08]  King Charles really doesn't have any hard power.
[00:03:12]  What difference do you think that this visit, what difference do you think he can make personally?
[00:03:18]  No, it does not have hard power, but soft power has its importance.
[00:03:21]  I think symbols have their importance.
[00:03:23]  I think the royal family are like global celebrities.
[00:03:26]  They're very well known across the world.
[00:03:29]  They're well known in parts of the United States.
[00:03:31]  If you think about the show like The Crown, I mean, that still matters, the history, the tradition associated with the royal family.
[00:03:38]  The pomp and circumstance.
[00:03:40]  Which, I mean, you know, that matters.
[00:03:42]  That's fun.
[00:03:42]  That matters.
[00:03:43]  That matters.
[00:03:44]  If you'd like to join our conversation with Garrett Martin, if you've got a question or comment about the royal visit to the United States starting today, that you can start calling us now.
[00:03:54]  Republicans are on 202-748-8001.
[00:03:57]  Democrats 2027488000 and Independents are on 202-748-8002.
[00:04:03]  As I mentioned earlier, schedule is at 4.15 p.m. Eastern Time.
[00:04:09]  The King and Queen will be arriving and be greeted by President Trump.
[00:04:13]  We will have that for you on the C-SPAN network, so stay with us for that.
[00:04:17]  The King is going to be addressing Congress.
[00:04:21]  Tell us what you're watching for that and what you expect to hear.
[00:04:24]  Well, first of all, it's a moment of history.
[00:04:27]  It's only the second time since a monarch from the United Kingdom is addressing a joint session.
[00:04:32]  The last time was in 1991 with Queen Elizabeth.
[00:04:35]  So in itself, that is a moment.
[00:04:37]  I think the second is we will be paying attention to what he says as well as what he doesn't mention.
[00:04:43]  We know that the king is a rather staunch supporter of the environment.
[00:04:48]  Is that a subject where there's obvious differences with the Trump administration?
[00:04:52]  Will that be mentioned?
[00:04:54]  The royal family in the UK has been connected to the Epstein scandal through Andrew Manbatten.
[00:04:59]  Well, I presume that will not be mentioned.
[00:05:01]  So there's a number of issues that will be important as what he says, but also crucially what he does not.
[00:05:06]  I do want to ask you about that, because it is his brother that was very closely tied to Epstein.
[00:05:13]  The king is not going to be meeting with any Epstein survivors.
[00:05:16]  Had there been discussion about that?
[00:05:19]  It had been mentioned.
[00:05:20]  I know that there had been requests made to the royal family to have even private meetings with survivors.
[00:05:27]  That is not going to happen.
[00:05:28]  I believe the Queen is going to meet with victims of domestic abuse, so I think there's a nod to it.
[00:05:34]  But I think they are staying clear of a subject that is difficult, I would say, in the UK and obviously difficult for the Trump administration as well.
[00:05:43]  He's also not meeting his son, Prince Harry, who lives in the United States.
[00:05:48]  Talk about that and their relationship.
[00:05:51]  Do they see each other?
[00:05:52]  Does Prince Harry go back to England to visit his father?
[00:05:56]  My understanding is that there have not been many visits.
[00:05:59]  I believe he did go back to see his father after his initial diagnosis.
[00:06:04]  So certainly the relations are complicated.
[00:06:06]  They're difficult.
[00:06:07]  I mean, like it happens in a number of families.
[00:06:10]  But of course, that one has a lot more of a glare and a lot more of international attention.
[00:06:14]  But the fact that Prince Harry's not coming to Washington during this visit is quite telling in itself.
[00:06:22]  Talk about the king's diagnosis.
[00:06:24]  What's the latest on that?
[00:06:26]  I think my understanding is that he has been following treatment.
[00:06:30]  He's been living now with cancer for two years.
[00:06:32]  So I think the prognosis has been fairly good.
[00:06:34]  But of course, at his age of 77, living with cancer two years and in a heavy schedule, a packed schedule, I think there are obviously concerns about his health.
[00:06:44]  And how old is he now?
[00:06:46]  I believe he is 77 and will be 78 this year.
[00:06:49]  So very close in age, actually, to President Trump.
[00:06:51]  Yes, the same generation, which I think is sometimes helpful in terms of good relations.
[00:06:58]  It's been said that King Charles has a sense of humor.
[00:07:01]  Is that true?
[00:07:02]  Well, I think maybe more in private.
[00:07:04]  I think he certainly looked more of a slightly more wooden in official functions.
[00:07:09]  I have not had a chance to meet him privately, so I can't really comment on that.
[00:07:13]  And this is the first trip to the United States since being crowned as the king.
[00:07:20]  How are British people responding to this?
[00:07:22]  Are they going to be watching it closely or do they think that the king should not go to the United States?
[00:07:29]  Well, I think that speaks exactly to the challenges of this trip, because there are challenges in terms of managing the relationship with the United States in the context that we've already alluded to.
[00:07:40]  But there is strong opposition to even the king taking this visit.
[00:07:45]  50% of UK citizens were opposed and believed that the visit was not appropriate.
[00:07:51]  Only a small plurality supported keeping the trip.
[00:07:54]  So he also has to be mindful of how the trip will be perceived at home.
[00:07:58]  Garrett Martin is our guest until the end of the program, about 25 minutes from now.
[00:08:04]  So we will take your calls.
[00:08:05]  He will answer your questions about the royal visit.
[00:08:07]  King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to arrive in the United States and stay for four days.
[00:08:15]  The numbers are Republicans, 202748, 8001.
[00:08:18]  Democrats 202748800.
[00:08:21]  And Independents 2027488002.
[00:08:24]  What are some of the highlights of those four days?
[00:08:26]  What is he going to be doing?
[00:08:28]  Well, so the first part of the trip is obviously going to be mostly focused in Washington.
[00:08:32]  There's going to be an initial meeting with President Trump.
[00:08:36]  Tomorrow there will be a more ceremonial garden party, I believe, with a sort of military procession, as well as, of course, the address, a joint address to Congress.
[00:08:46]  Then the king and queen head to New York to pay tribute to the victims of 9-11.
[00:08:53]  Obviously, we are in the 25th year since the horrific attacks.
[00:08:58]  There will be some visits also that are only by the Queen, including to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of Winnie the Pooh.
[00:09:06]  And then there will be a return to Washington as well as a visit or participation in a block party in Virginia to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
[00:09:17]  So a block party?
[00:09:19]  I was as surprised as the King and Queen of England.
[00:09:22]  I'm very surprised about what's going to happen, what's going to be served, but certainly I think it speaks to the fact that it is, of course, a meeting with the administration, but it's also a meeting with the American people.
[00:09:34]  I think that speaks to the idea that the messaging that they want the relationship to endure, to endure regardless of who is sitting in the White House.
[00:09:43]  All right, let's talk to callers.
[00:09:44]  We'll start with Terry Atlanta, Line for Democrats.
[00:09:47]  Good morning, Terry.
[00:09:50]  Hey, good morning.
[00:09:51]  How are you?
[00:09:53]  And thank you for taking my call.
[00:09:55]  I'm interested in why the king and queen are not going to have any, I guess, personal visits with their relatives.
[00:10:10]  I know that's probably something you can't say, but I'm wondering if there will be any talk about the war in Iran, if they have any comments about that.
[00:10:21]  And also, I just have to say that I am a forever fan of the People's Princess Diana.
[00:10:28]  She will always be, you know, my queen.
[00:10:33]  So I respect that the king has taken a wife.
[00:10:38]  Obviously, it makes him very, very, very happy.
[00:10:41]  But my heart goes to Princess Diana.
[00:10:45]  So thank you.
[00:10:47]  And please give me thoughts about that.
[00:10:50]  Well, I think the fact that Terry still remembers Diana now about nearly 30 years since her death, I think is telling about the soft power that the royal family can have.
[00:11:01]  So I think that's very indicative.
[00:11:04]  What will the king say about Iran?
[00:11:06]  I think that's going to be an interesting because it's obviously being a big bone of contention.
[00:11:10]  I think the king has been certainly was more vocal about the importance of supporting Ukraine during the state visit in September when President Trump went to London.
[00:11:22]  I think certainly I assume he may not speak about the conflict directly, but I think he will certainly speak about the long sort of military solidarity, the long military cooperation that both countries have shown since World War II and in many different instances.
[00:11:40]  Sam is a Republican in Florida.
[00:11:43]  You're on with Garrett Martin.
[00:11:44]  Good morning, Sam.
[00:11:46]  Good morning.
[00:11:46]  Thank you for taking my call and good morning to your guests.
[00:11:49]  This is more just like a comment.
[00:11:51]  As an American, I feel like there is no closer, more brethren nation than the United Kingdom to the United States.
[00:12:00]  I know that this might not be the popular thing right now with all the back and forth and what President Trump says, and I'm a President Trump supporter.
[00:12:08]  I think brothers fight.
[00:12:12]  And we're democratic nations, we're open nations, so it's everything is, you know, nothing is hidden, everything is in the open.
[00:12:19]  So people will comment, and there's the eyes of the world is always on us, on us, meaning the U.S. and UK.
[00:12:26]  But our ties go back to bloodline, to shared history, shared heritage, and it's a special relationship for those reasons.
[00:12:36]  It's not just some kind of a short-term economic or geostrategic benefits or interests.
[00:12:44]  It's way deeper than that, and it will remain that.
[00:12:46]  So I just want to say I welcome the king's visit.
[00:12:51]  And this brotherhood will always remain there.
[00:12:55]  So I just want to share that.
[00:12:57]  All right, Sam.
[00:12:58]  No, I think you're absolutely right.
[00:13:00]  I mean, if you look at the history of the special relationship, certainly conflict, disputes, and differences are as ingrained in the DNA as sort of all the elements of cooperation that I believe Sam was referring to.
[00:13:12]  I think if you think about it a little bit like an iceberg, you have the tip of the iceberg, which is sometimes the atmospherics between the leaders are sometimes difficult and fraught.
[00:13:21]  But there is still this sort of deep day-to-day cooperation that happens in the field of intelligence, insecurity, economic trade, people-to-people exchanges.
[00:13:30]  And I think that is still a strong foundation, even in moments like this when there are big political differences.
[00:13:36]  Well, Annette disagrees with that.
[00:13:38]  She sent us on X.
[00:13:39]  She says, I don't think King Charles should visit now.
[00:13:42]  Trump will find some way to insult, ridicule, blame, or embarrass him.
[00:13:48]  I think that's certainly a possibility.
[00:13:50]  I mean, I think, you know, even a few days ago, I believe Reuters spoke about a leaked email from the Pentagon where there was, at least allegedly, there was talk about punishing the UK for its lack of support over the Iran conflict in the form of changing the position on the Falklands or Malvinas, depending if you are Argentinian.
[00:14:11]  So I think the concern, like even if it's not directly towards the king, will they be a remark?
[00:14:17]  Will they be a claim, a true social post that attacks Kai Starmer directly?
[00:14:23]  And of course, that would put the king in a rather difficult position if that was to happen.
[00:14:28]  Remind us about what's happening with the Falkland Islands.
[00:14:31]  Well, this was, again, a leaked email from the Pentagon that suggested that the administration was contemplating ways to punish countries, NATO members, that had not been viewed as cooperative.
[00:14:44]  The United States' position has been to recognize British sovereignty over the Falklands.
[00:14:50]  But there was claim that could that change?
[00:14:51]  Could there unilaterally be a shift to recognizing Argentinian sovereignty?

=== UK Politics and Borders (09:12) ===

[00:14:56]  And would that be a big deal for the UK?
[00:14:59]  Absolutely.
[00:15:00]  I mean, you know, the UK fought a war with Argentina in 1982 over that small territory.
[00:15:08]  There's obviously been, you know, sacrificed lost soldiers.
[00:15:12]  And so I think that coming after the comments about British soldiers in January, I think would be hard to swallow for the British public, which is not that endeared with President Trump as it is.
[00:15:24]  Let's talk to Ari Rose in Woodbridge, Virginia.
[00:15:28]  Democrat, good morning.
[00:15:30]  Good morning, Amy.
[00:15:31]  Thank you for all that you do.
[00:15:33]  I'm here with my 93-year-old grandmother.
[00:15:36]  We watch your show almost every morning.
[00:15:38]  And we just had a quick question.
[00:15:41]  Are the royals going to be staying in the White House area or where will they be while they're here, like primarily?
[00:15:49]  That is a good question.
[00:15:50]  I suspect there is a possibility that they might be housed at the beautiful residence of the UK ambassador, you know, near the naval observatory, but I am not actually sure.
[00:16:02]  And probably you're not sure because of security.
[00:16:05]  One would hope so, yes.
[00:16:07]  And the issue of, of course, what happened on Saturday night and probably enhanced security for the royals.
[00:16:15]  Yes, I mean, I think obviously if it is the residence, it is a little bit more secure.
[00:16:20]  It is a little less open access to the public as opposed to a hotel, for instance.
[00:16:24]  Here's Kathy in Georgia, Republican.
[00:16:27]  Hi, Kathy.
[00:16:29]  Hi.
[00:16:30]  Yes, I wanted to say I don't think there is that much of a risk between the two countries because when President Trump went to Britain last time, they gave him an opulent reception, one that they don't normally give to leaders.
[00:16:49]  And they gave it to him, and the mainstream media didn't even show it.
[00:16:55]  But that was a very nice gesture.
[00:16:58]  And so I don't think that there's that much of a riff.
[00:17:02]  And I just hope that the security is going to be tight and everyone is safe.
[00:17:09]  And oh, what else can I say?
[00:17:13]  All right.
[00:17:14]  We got that, Kathy.
[00:17:15]  Thank you.
[00:17:16]  Well, you know, you're absolutely right that there was, it was a big honor, and I think there was a lot of time and resources put in welcoming President Trump to London in September.
[00:17:26]  But I think it depends what perspective you're taking.
[00:17:28]  I think the net unfavorability of President Trump in the United Kingdom as of now is minus 70.
[00:17:36]  That is significant.
[00:17:37]  So I think if you're thinking about how that also affects long-term attitudes amongst the UK public towards the United States, that is concerning.
[00:17:45]  Does that mean that that cannot be fixed or that cannot be repaired over time?
[00:17:50]  No, but it's still, I think, a significant impediment because Kirstama himself is not exactly very popular.
[00:17:57]  So he has to be mindful of his own public when managing relations with the most important ally of the United Kingdom.
[00:18:04]  Talk a little bit about internal UK politics.
[00:18:07]  You mentioned 70% unfavorability for President Trump, but that leaves about 30% then favorable.
[00:18:16]  So talk about, I mean, is there a right-wing, is there a rightward swing to internal UK politics?
[00:18:26]  So let me, just to be precise, it's a minus 70.
[00:18:30]  So that's a differential between approval and disapproval.
[00:18:34]  So that's quite hefty.
[00:18:36]  Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's a little bit more.
[00:18:39]  So the people that do approve of President Trump, let's put it that way, even though they're in the minority, what are they thinking and what's that politics like?
[00:18:47]  I mean, there's certainly been on certain subjects, for instance, let's take the conflict in Iran, is broadly not popular amongst the UK public, but certain segments of the UK political spectrum have been critical of Starma and argued that the United Kingdom should do more to help the United States.
[00:19:06]  That's obviously Nigel Farage of the Reform Party, some members of the Conservatives.
[00:19:10]  So there are on certain issues, on certain topics, you will have some parts of the British political class that are more in line with the views of the Trump administration.
[00:19:21]  There have also been more connections between, I would say, some of the MAGA intellectuals or MAGA funders with some members of the British political class.
[00:19:33]  So there are sort of political connections that have been built over time as well.
[00:19:39]  Let's hear from George in Elgin, Texas.
[00:19:41]  Democrat, you're next.
[00:19:44]  Good morning, Can, and morning to your guests.
[00:19:47]  Thank you for taking my call.
[00:19:50]  Before I start, Mimi, I just wanted to say thank you to C-SPAN for your coverage of the Artemis II mission.
[00:19:57]  It was really excellent.
[00:19:59]  And I think it was just great the way y'all carried everything live as much as you could.
[00:20:05]  For your guest, I just wanted you to, in my opinion, our reporting and coverage of international affairs in the United States is very lacking.
[00:20:16]  It's very poor.
[00:20:17]  And I just wanted you, if you could, run down, say, the top three issues that y'all are dealing with in the UK.
[00:20:25]  Financial issues or problems that y'all have to deal with.
[00:20:29]  I know that y'all have had problems with racism and things like that.
[00:20:33]  But can you give us a little education, the American public, on the top three things that y'all have to deal with right now in current affairs in England?
[00:20:43]  And I thank you for taking my call and answering my questions.
[00:20:47]  Well, of course, you know, I'm, you know, being based in the United States, I'm not directly myself dealing with them.
[00:20:52]  It's the accent.
[00:20:54]  Yeah, I'm Irish for full disclosure, but I lived in London for many years.
[00:20:58]  So I think if you want to look at key, three maybe key issues that the United Kingdom is facing as of now, I think the most important and the most enduring has been the economy.
[00:21:09]  Since the financial crisis of 2008, 2009, the UK economy has simply not grown and kept up with its other G7 competitor or peer countries.
[00:21:21]  Wages, productivity have struggled.
[00:21:24]  And so I think that's been a big issue that the UK has faced.
[00:21:28]  And so I think that was certainly what Kirst Armour claimed that he was going to be able to address when he got elected nearly two years ago.
[00:21:36]  I think the second is obviously the impact of inflation and the impact of high energy costs and the impact also of the housing crisis.
[00:21:46]  So these are very much pocketbook issues that have been enduring as well and that really affect UK citizens.
[00:21:53]  And I would say the third big challenge is what exactly is the role of the United Kingdom on the international stage now that it's no longer a member of the European Union?
[00:22:04]  I think it has tried historically to be a bridge between the United States and Europe, but it runs the risk of being on the periphery of both.
[00:22:13]  What about immigration?
[00:22:14]  Is that a big issue in the UK?
[00:22:16]  It is.
[00:22:17]  I mean, immigration is an issue that certainly has salience.
[00:22:21]  I would say in Europe, in the UK, there have been a lot of illegal immigration networks starting from France and small boats taking immigrants to the United Kingdom.
[00:22:34]  I think certainly for parts of the population, I think it has created concerns about the abilities to maintain law and order, to protect borders.
[00:22:44]  Kirst Armour has promised to try and tackle that issue, but the number of, you know, the networks are adaptable, they're versatile, and they've been able to sort of avoid and to circumvent a lot of the measures.
[00:22:57]  So the number of those boat crossings has slightly increased in the past year.
[00:23:02]  Somebody with a handle seriously on X said, I am very happy to see the king and queen coming to America.
[00:23:09]  I greatly admire Charles and Camilla.
[00:23:11]  I hope Americans step up and show them what the best of America is all about.
[00:23:16]  Can you talk a little bit about the difference between King Charles and his mother, Queen Elizabeth, and if there's really any substantial difference between the two and how they're approaching the monarchy?
[00:23:31]  I think there would certainly be more continuity than when we see sort of future King William.
[00:23:36]  I think there will be more of a generational shift.
[00:23:39]  I think there are some small differences.
[00:23:41]  I think maybe King Charles has been a bit more openly active on certain political subjects.
[00:23:47]  I think in particular over the environment.
[00:23:50]  I think I've already alluded to that.
[00:23:51]  I think maybe his mother was a little bit more inscrutable in terms of what her actual views were on a number of big political subjects.
[00:23:59]  So I think that's probably the big difference between the two is that he is a little bit more, I would say, politically active or at least politically clear on certain issues.

=== Immigration Narratives Explained (02:20) ===

[00:24:09]  But I still think that there is the bigger generational shift will be what happens after him.
[00:24:15]  On the Republican line in Lebanon, Ohio, Elizabeth, you're on with Garrett Martin.
[00:24:21]  Hi.
[00:24:22]  I am just curious if the king is aware of the no-king movement in the United States, if he has any comments about this movement.
[00:24:37]  You know, you have to know, you have to admit when you don't know, and I have no idea whether the king knows this.
[00:24:44]  I think if he has a sense of humor, I mean, already the fact that the visit is happening a little over two months before the 250th anniversary, it is in itself quite historically ironic, but I don't know if the king is aware of the no-kings movement.
[00:24:59]  Rick in Oklahoma, Democrat, you're on the air.
[00:25:05]  Yes, I was just wondering how the people felt over there and all of our actions and stuff when Donald Trump called all of our allies and stuff cowards for not helping over in Iran and everything.
[00:25:21]  And since they fought the wars and died side by side with us and stuff, to call them cowards, it made me feel sick at my stomach.
[00:25:31]  But just wondering how the people felt.
[00:25:34]  All right, Rick?
[00:25:36]  I mean, I think that was, you know, very badly, you know, very strong reaction, very negative reaction.
[00:25:42]  I think the UK has been a firm ally of the United States, a firm member of NATO, which has been often on the front lines of major conflicts.
[00:25:51]  And so, as I alluded to earlier, the remarks about denigrating the sacrifice of UK soldiers in Afghanistan really went down like a lead balloon.
[00:26:01]  And interestingly, across the political spectrum.
[00:26:04]  So even reform, the party, which is more on the far right, that might be more aligned with Trump and MAGA, even there, that remark was really very poorly received.
[00:26:17]  I asked you about immigration earlier.
[00:26:19]  Joe on X says, why don't you ask your guest about Charles's pandering to Islam and the trouble Muslim immigrants have been causing in Great Britain?

=== Far Right Backlash (03:46) ===

[00:26:30]  I mean, I think that sometimes can appear as a bit of a Rorschach test.
[00:26:33]  I do think there is some exaggeration about these issues over immigration in the United Kingdom.
[00:26:44]  I think we're talking about, you know, the Muslim population in the UK is relatively small compared to the overall population.
[00:26:52]  I think I've seen sometimes narratives about a Muslim invasion which seemed heavily detached from the day-to-day reality.
[00:27:00]  Now, are there integration sometimes challenges in a multicultural society?
[00:27:05]  Absolutely.
[00:27:06]  But I think sometimes the narratives seem, at least from the friends back that I still keep in touch with the UK, the picture of London or other important centers seem rather sort of separated from the lived realities of people on the ground.
[00:27:23]  Let's talk to Stephanie, Fairfax, California, Independent Line.
[00:27:27]  Hi, Stephanie.
[00:27:30]  Hello.
[00:27:30]  Hi, go right ahead.
[00:27:31]  You're on with Garrett Martin.
[00:27:34]  Oh, well, I was present for the last tour that they took when they came to the Bay Area and San Francisco area.
[00:27:44]  And it was really fun.
[00:27:45]  kind of went around and saw them in Berkeley and then they were in San Francisco at the ferry terminal and they were super fun.
[00:27:53]  It was really close.
[00:27:55]  We were like, you know, within inches of them and it was really fun.
[00:28:00]  And wait, they let you get that close, Stephanie?
[00:28:05]  Pardon me?
[00:28:06]  They let you get that close?
[00:28:10]  I can't hear you very well.
[00:28:12]  I'm sorry.
[00:28:13]  I'm on a cell phone.
[00:28:14]  It's okay.
[00:28:15]  You go ahead with your comment.
[00:28:16]  Go ahead.
[00:28:20]  It was really fun.
[00:28:22]  And there was a little thing, the Ethiopian people were crying in Berkeley about, you know, their situation.
[00:28:30]  And they had signs and things like that.
[00:28:32]  So I said, I'll take a sign to the ferry terminal.
[00:28:35]  And when I took my sign and held it up, his people, Secret Service type people, came and took my sign.
[00:28:43]  But I didn't really mind it.
[00:28:45]  I mean, I did mind it, but it was a little odd.
[00:28:49]  But he's a very wonderful guy in terms of his interest in organic farming.
[00:28:55]  He came out to Point Reyes.
[00:28:57]  And, you know, he just seems like a super nice person, sensitive guy.
[00:29:03]  I think he likes to do watercolors and things like that.
[00:29:06]  So overall, my experience was very good.
[00:29:10]  And I just wondered, does he know if they're coming back to the Bay Area at all?
[00:29:15]  I don't believe it's planned on this specific trip.
[00:29:18]  Now, will there be maybe other opportunities in the future?
[00:29:21]  But certainly the caller, Stephanie, is absolutely right about the king has been a proponent of organic farming for decades and certainly someone who was a little bit the vanguard on that subject.
[00:29:33]  Brenda in Massachusetts Independent Line, you're on the air.
[00:29:36]  Good morning.
[00:29:37]  All right.
[00:29:39]  Hello.
[00:29:40]  Go ahead, Brenda.
[00:29:40]  You're on.
[00:29:42]  Oh, I'm not getting me on there.
[00:29:45]  No, you just listen in your phone.
[00:29:48]  Don't watch your TV.
[00:29:50]  Okay.
[00:29:53]  But they're talking and they're not hearing me.
[00:29:57]  Just keep talking, Brenda.
[00:29:58]  You're on the air.
[00:29:59]  Okay.
[00:30:00]  Okay, thank you.
[00:30:03]  I just wanted to let the gentleman know.
[00:30:08]  I just want to let the gentleman know.
[00:30:10]  Hello.
[00:30:11]  Yes.
[00:30:12]  Go ahead, Brenda.
[00:30:12]  You wanted to let the gentleman know what?
[00:30:14]  I'm still here.

=== Connecting the Audience (03:43) ===

[00:30:16]  Yes.
[00:30:19]  I have a lot of respect for the King of England.
[00:30:25]  Okay.
[00:30:26]  Anything else you'd like to add?
[00:30:30]  No, they're not hearing me.
[00:30:31]  Somebody else is on.
[00:30:32]  Okay, Brenda.
[00:30:33]  We'll let you go.
[00:30:34]  There's actually Margie in Meadville, Pennsylvania, wants to know about protocols.
[00:30:39]  She says, one in another country, are curtsies and or bowing excluded?
[00:30:44]  Well, I haven't fully brushed up on my royal protocol, but I imagine.
[00:30:47]  Come on, Garrett.
[00:30:48]  The curtsies and the bowing, you got to know about that.
[00:30:50]  No, no, I know about them.
[00:30:51]  I was just saying about when, you know, do they have, is there extra territoriality?
[00:30:55]  I presume at least in the residence of the UK Ambassador, yes, there will be that expectation.
[00:31:01]  But I would imagine probably not in the White House.
[00:31:04]  All right.
[00:31:05]  That's Garrett Martin.
[00:31:06]  He is senior professorial lecturer at American University, co-director at the Transatlantic Policy Center.
[00:31:12]  Thanks so much for joining us.
[00:31:13]  Thank you.
[00:31:14]  Thank you.
[00:31:16]  King Charles and Queen Camilla are heading to the U.S. for a four-day state visit beginning today.
[00:31:22]  During their trip, the King will address a joint session of Congress.
[00:31:25]  And President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host the royal couple at a state dinner at the White House.
[00:31:31]  The visit also includes stops in New York and Virginia, where they'll take part in a block party celebrating America's 250th birthday.
[00:31:38]  Don't miss live coverage of the Royal State Visit beginning today on the C-SPAN networks.
[00:31:45]  The U.S. House returns later today at 2 p.m. Eastern.
[00:31:48]  Members will consider several tax-related bills, including legislation to extend tax relief for individuals impacted by federally declared disasters.
[00:31:57]  The bill is named after the late California Republican Congressman Doug Lamalfa, who died in January.
[00:32:03]  The House will also take up legislation to raise the retirement age for U.S. Capitol police officers to 65.
[00:32:10]  The Senate's also back today at 3 p.m. Eastern.
[00:32:12]  Lawmakers will vote later in the day to advance President Trump's nomination of Robert Zakata to be ATF director.
[00:32:19]  Watch live coverage of the House on C-SPAN, the Senate on C-SPAN 2, and all of our congressional coverage is available on our free video app, C-SPAN Now, and our website, c-span.org.
[00:32:33]  In a divided media world, one place brings Americans together.
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[00:33:08]  Coming up shortly here on C-SPAN, we're going to take you live to the White House, where Press Secretary Caroline Levitt is set to hold her first briefing after Saturday's shooting at the White House correspondence dinner.
[00:33:18]  She's expected to give an update on the investigation into the suspect, as well as the administration's effort to review security procedures on future events attended by the president.
[00:33:28]  Reporters could also ask her about the conflict with Iran after the president recently canceled a U.S. delegation's trip to Pakistan to negotiate with Iranian representatives.
[00:33:37]  This briefing also will take place as the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla begins here in Washington, D.C. Live coverage when the press secretary arrives here on C-SPAN.
[00:33:48]  While we wait, I'll show you a segment from our Washington Journal.
[00:33:52]  Welcome back to Washington Journal.
[00:33:53]  We're an open forum and looking forward to taking your calls.
[00:33:58]  I do want to show you real quick.