US President Joe Biden was possibly the only notable world leader who did not attend the coronation of King Charles III. Nile Gardiner, a foreign policy analyst who served as an aide to the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, took a dim view of Biden’s absence as well.
“Leaders from across the world are attending today’s Coronation of King Charles III. Even the French President is there. Notably absent is Joe Biden, who could not be bothered. What message does this send to America’s closest ally? Biden is a petty, arrogant, sneering disgrace”, he tweeted on May 6, 2023.
Leaders from across the world are attending today's Coronation of King Charles III. Even the French President is there. Notably absent is Joe Biden, who could not be bothered. What message does this send to America's closest ally? Biden is a petty, arrogant, sneering disgrace.
— Nile Gardiner (@NileGardiner) May 6, 2023
Joe Biden’s arch-rival Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform:
“Joe Biden should have been at the Coronation of King Charles III. Is that really so much to ask? The people of the UK are greatly insulted. No wonder we are losing support all over the World. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
He also congratulated King Charles and Queen Camilla and wished them well. “Good Luck and Best Wishes to the wonderful new King and Queen of The United Kingdom. You are two very Special People. May your Reign be a Long and Glorious One. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!!!”
Donald Trump questioned why US President Joe Biden did not make the trip in an earlier interview, speculating that it may be due to faltering health.
“Certainly, he should be here as our representative of our country”, Trump said. “I was very surprised, I think it’s very disrespectful for him not to be here”.
“I don’t think he can do it physically, actually, I think that it’s hard for him to do it physically”, he noted further, according to RadarOnline.com. “He’s got a lot of things going, a lot of strange things happened”.
In April, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that President Biden would not make the trip to England for the coronation, and did not have a convincing answer, to many, when she was asked why.
“The president had about a 25-minute, 30-minute call with the King Charles III, during which he congratulated the King — I think we put that out last night — to his upcoming coronation, and they have a very friendly conversation”, she told a reporter at the time, RadarOnline.com reported.
“They have a good relationship with the King. He talked about how he enjoyed meeting — visiting — the Queen, I should say, back in 2021 — he and the first lady, at Windsor. And he hoped to visit again soon”, she added.
“No, they should not see it as a snub. Not at all. Again, the president has a good relationship with the King. They had a friendly conversation, and I will leave it at that. It is not a snub”, Jean-Pierre added.
Political analyst Craig Agranoff told Newsweek: “It’s worth noting that Trump also did not attend the coronation of King Charles III. In fact, no sitting United States president has ever attended a British coronation. So, while Biden’s decision may not be popular with everyone, it’s not unprecedented”.
Meanwhile, US First Lady Jill Biden was the subject of ridicule on Saturday as observers of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III noticed where she was seated during the ceremony.
Jill Biden was at the coronation without President Joe Biden but with a granddaughter, according to RadarOnline.com, which added that both were seen at the back of Westminster Abby.
One person noted online, “Jill Biden is in the last row!” the outlet reported, while another said, “Jill Biden in back row. Love it! Stupid move by Joe snubbing the king, supporting the Markles and encouraging their treacherous actions”.
“Jill Biden seated at the back by the toilets. Maybe they’d still planned for Joe to be there?” another person quipped. Still another said, “Bit rude seating Jill Biden so far back isn’t it?”
