Trump’s Protocol Blunder: Did He Cut the Queen?

President Donald Trump appeared to interrupt the formal greeting line during King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the White House on Tuesday, prompting criticism for a perceived breach of royal protocol. Footage shows Trump stepping in front of Queen Camilla while she was shaking hands with officials, momentarily disrupting the established order of greetings.

The incident, reported by Polish news outlet Wiadomości Onet, has drawn comparisons to a similar instance during Trump’s 2018 visit to the United Kingdom, when he walked in front of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Disrupted Greeting Line

According to reports from The Daily Beast, as King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to the White House after a private welcome, Queen Camilla began greeting a line of U.S. Officials. While she was shaking hands with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Trump interjected, moving ahead of the Queen to greet others.

The Daily Beast reported that Queen Camilla appeared “slightly taken aback” as Trump moved in front of her. The report also noted that King Charles was briefly left with an outstretched hand as Trump engaged with those in line.

Past Protocol Concerns

This is not the first time Trump’s interactions with the British monarchy have raised questions about protocol. During his 2018 state visit, Trump walked in front of Queen Elizabeth II during an inspection of the guard of honour, an action that also drew criticism.

While the official website for the British Monarchy states that “there are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting the Queen or a member of the Royal Family,” accepted practices generally discourage walking in front of the monarch.

Shoulder Pat and Reactions

Further adding to the discussion surrounding protocol, Trump also patted King Charles on the shoulder during the greeting at the White House, a gesture that some observers noted goes against the unwritten rule of avoiding initiating physical contact. Yahoo News reported that body language expert Judi James suggested this gesture was a sign of “special friendship” and not necessarily a diplomatic misstep.

Social media users have reacted to the incidents, with some labeling Trump’s actions as “disrespectful” and “embarrassing,” as reported by Indy100. Podcaster Brian Krassenstein tweeted, “Every day is another embarrassment for our country,” while Canadian journalist Mark Slapinski called Trump “an embarrassment to the United States” on X/Twitter.

The State Visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla continues, and further interactions between the royals and the U.S. President will likely be closely watched for any additional deviations from established protocol.