Former President Donald Trump says he has been watching the Queen ‘very closely’ after a ‘tough year’, but hopes she is ‘not too ill.’
In a world exclusive interview for GB News, the 45th President told Nigel Farage that the Queen is ‘a fantastic woman’ who is ‘respected by everyone.’
(left to right) Melania Trump, US President Donald Trump, Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales before meeting veterans during commemorations for the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings at Southsea Common, Portsmouth.
Jeff J Mitchell
Mr Trump recounted his interactions with Her Majesty whilst President: ‘I was supposed to spend like a half an hour with her [but] I ended up being there for much more than an hour.
‘Everyone said “oh that’s so rude” but I said “no but she liked it and I liked it I’m not going to be rude”.’
He went on: ‘We had a great time together, we then had an evening the likes of which you rarely would see.
‘She was really laughing and smiling, we got along great, we talked the whole night.’
Mr Trump continued: ‘She is a great, wonderful woman... and respected by everyone.
‘And no scandal, no anything, think of it.
‘She’s done this for more than 70 years and she’s never had a scandal about herself.’
Mr Trump met the Queen in June 2019, during a state visit, and again in December of the same year during a Royal family reception at a NATO summit hosted at Buckingham Palace.
On both occasions Mr Trump and the former First Lady, Melania, attracted widespread criticism for failing to adhere to royal protocol when meeting the monarch.
Mr and Mrs Trump chose to shake Her Majesty by the hand, instead of the customary bowing of the head or curtsy.
Speaking to Nigel Farage however, Mr Trump spoke at length about his Scottish-born mother’s admiration for the Queen.
She is a great, wonderful woman... and respected by everyone
He said of his mother: She was really somebody who respected the Queen, she loved the Queen.
‘Anything with the Queen, when they were doing anything ceremonial… she was glued to the television.
‘She had great respect and love for the queen.’
Queen Elizabeth has met 13 of the last 14 US Presidents, including President Joe Biden whom she met at Windsor Castle earlier this year.
Her first official meeting with a US President came in 1951, when she met President Harry Truman.