Rock legend Sir Rod Stewart has appeared to deliver a scathing two-word verdict on President Donald Trump directly to King Charlesâ face.
Charles attended The Kingâs Trust 50th anniversary celebration in London on Monday. The charity has helped over 1.3 million young people access education, employment and training since Charles launched it in 1976.
The king greeted a line-up of celebrity guests at the event, including Stewart and Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood.
While greeting the King, Stewart, 81, appeared to label Trump a âlittle ratbag.â
Stewart said of the U.S. state visit after shaking the Kingâs hand, âMay I say, well done in the Americas,â according to the Daily Mailâs royal editor, Rebecca English, and additionally reported in The Times.
âYou were superb. Absolutely superb. You put that little ratbag in his place.â
The king, who traditionally remains politically neutral, appeared to smile at Stewartâs remark, while the musician laughed.
Stewart appeared to continue talking, The Times reported. âExactly, thatâs itâit went right over his head, right over his head.â
Charles made an unclear comment to Stewart before the musician turned to Queen Camilla and said, âI was just congratulating your husband on his wonderful performance in the Americas, so great, so brave, so proud.â
The Daily Beast has contacted reps for Stewart and the White House for comment.
King Charles met with Trump during a state visit to America last month. The visit was designed to reinforce U.S. and U.K. relations.
During a speech at the White House, Charles pointed out the âindispensable allianceâ between the United States and United Kingdom and reminded Trump that America might be âspeaking Frenchâ if not for the Brits.
At a Congress address, Charles called on Americaâs continued defense of Ukraine and stressed the importance of NATO. He also gave the president a vintage golden bell with âTRUMPâ written on it.
Stewart was knighted in 2016 by Prince William, receiving the honor for his services to music and charity.
The musician was previously friendly with Trump and has been pictured with him several times over the years.
However, in a video posted on Instagram in January, Stewart called out âdraft-dodger Trumpâ for questioning the courage of NATO troops who served in Afghanistan.
âWe lost over 400 of our guys,â Stewart said. âThink about their parents. Think about it. And Trump calls them almost like cowards. Itâs unbearable.â
Stewart was reacting to an interview Trump gave to Fox News in January, where he said of NATO, âWeâve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them⌠You know, theyâll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that. And they didâ they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.â
Trump was forced to walk back the comments after U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called his remarks âinsulting and frankly, appalling.â
Last June, Stewart said the 79-year-old changed after he became president.
âIâm not a great fan of Trump,â he told Radio Times. âI knew him very, very well. I used to go to his house.â
Stewart said he remains neighbors with Trump in Florida.
âI live literally half a mile away,â he said. âWeâre both on the beach. I used to go to his Christmas parties. Heâs always been a bit of a manâs man. I liked him for that. But he didnât, as far as Iâm concerned, treat women very well. But since he became president, he became another guy. Somebody I didnât know.â
When asked if he still counted Trump as a friend, Stewart said, âNo, I canât any more. As long as heâs selling arms to the Israelisâand he still is. Howâs that war ever gonna stop?â
In the interview last June, Stewart admitted he had stopped criticizing Trump on stage when playing in the U.S.
âI had a little joke about him when he had all the tan, you know, the Orange Man. And, âBoooo!ââ
