Iconic singer Sir Rod Stewart appears to have taken a swipe at US President Donald Trump during a meeting with King Charles.
The veteran rocker greeted the monarch at an event in London to mark the 50th anniversary of the charity The King’s Trust, before telling him: “May I say, well done in the Americas. You were superb. Absolutely superb.
“You put that little ratbag in his place,” according to a video clip of the exchange.
The King listened to Stewart and appeared to laugh.
However, the Maggie May singer didn’t mention Mr Trump by name no was it clear if Charles was reacting to a comment bout the US President.
Stewarts has fallen out with Donald Trump saying he knew home “very, very well” but he has become “another guy” since he became president.
Charles’ quips to Trump
Mr Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House for a four-day state visit in late April.
During a lavish dinner hosted by the President, Charles delivered a speech that received widespread praise after he jokingly told guests: “Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French?”
The quip was in response to Mr Trump who previously told European leaders that without US aid in World War II they would be “speaking German and a little Japanese”.
The King was referencing places in North America where the rival colonial powers battled for control of the continent before US independence 250 years ago.
While striking a warm tone with good humour and noting the “special relationship” between London and Washington, he made further good naturesd jokes at Mr Trump’s expense, saying he could not help noticing the “readjustments” to the White House East Wing – which the former real estate tycoon has demolished with a plan to build an extravagant $US400 million ballroom.
“I am sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814,” he said, when British soldiers torched the building.
In a speech To Congress, Charles received a standing ovation when he spoke of the importance of the British derived system of “checks and balances” on presidential power in the US Constitution.
That was seen by some as subtle dig at the current White House which has been accused of bypassing Congress and haranguing the courts.
Stewart’s bee faith Trump
In a 2025 interview with UK magazine Radio Times, Stewart said he used to be friends with Mr Trump but that was no longer the case.“I’m not a great fan of Trump,” he said. “I knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house. I live literally half a mile away (in Florida) … We’re both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. He’s always been a bit of a man’s man. I liked him for that. But he didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well. But since he became president, he became another guy. Somebody I didn’t know.”
‘Got me to do something that no one was able to’
So enamoured was Mr Trump with the king and queen he made the decision to completely abolish a UK tariff altogether.
“In Honour of the King and Queen … soon headed back to their wonderful Country, I will be removing the Tariffs and Restrictions on Whiskey having to do with Scotland’s ability to work with the Commonwealth of Kentucky on Whiskey and Bourbon, two very important Industries within Scotland and Kentucky.
“People have wanted to do this for a long time,” said Mr Trump referencing the wooden whisky barrels that regularly move between distilleries sin the UK and US.
“The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!”
