Trump Claims King Charles Backs His Iran Nuclear Stance, Palace Disagrees

President Donald Trump claimed during a state dinner at the White House on Tuesday that King Charles III agrees with his stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Buckingham Palace responded Wednesday by stating the King is mindful of the British government’s long-standing position on nuclear non-proliferation.

Trump made the remarks during a speech at the white-tie event honoring King Charles and Queen Camilla, following bilateral talks between the two leaders. “We’re doing a little Middle East work right now … and we’re doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever—Charles agrees with me, even more than I do—we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, according to reporting from The Guardian.

The US president continued, stating, “They know that, and they’ve known it right now, very powerfully.”

As head of state, King Charles is expected to remain politically neutral. Trump’s comments are likely to cause embarrassment to royal aides, as they publicly reveal what the president claims are the King’s private views.

In response to Trump’s claim, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, “The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”

Dr. Craig Prescott, a University of London lecturer specializing in the constitutional and political role of the monarchy, explained that there is an expectation of privacy surrounding conversations with members of the royal family. “In the U.K., there is an expectation that private conversations with the King or another member of the royal family are kept private,” Prescott told TIME. “The reason for this is that you don’t want to bring the monarchy into politics or matters that are politically controversial.”

Prescott added that if King Charles had expressed such a view privately, it would not be considered particularly controversial, as it would align with the existing consensus within the British government.

Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. He also used a social media post to warn Iran to “get smart soon” and sign a non-nuclear deal, The Guardian reported. Trump reportedly rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until a nuclear deal is reached, calling the country’s leaders “choking like stuffed pigs,” according to News18.