resident Trump capped a two-day state visit to Britain with a wide-ranging press gaggle aboard Air Force One on Thursday night, praising King Charles and the royal family while fielding questions on foreign policy, protests at home, and even late-night television.
“I think it was a really good day and a half. Very intensive,” Trump told reporters as the presidential plane lifted off. Asked about the highlight of the visit, the president singled out his meetings with King Charles, whom he called “a wonderful guy,” and the cultural tours arranged by the hosts. “I saw more paintings than any human being has ever saw and statues. But they treated us great. They treated our country great. … Last night was beautiful. And we had the biggest people in the world there. That was respect for our country.”
The president dismissed speculation that his administration is exploring regime change in Venezuela. “No, I haven’t,” Trump said flatly when asked if he had discussed the matter with Secretary of State Marco Rubio or military leaders.
He was more expansive about Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, which the U.S. evacuated in 2021. “I would like to get Bagram back,” Trump said. “It should have never been given. It was gross incompetence to give that up. You know it’s one of the most powerful bases in the world in terms of runway strength and length. You could land anything on there. You could land a planet on top of it.”
On Ukraine, Trump suggested he could press for a ceasefire with Russia “at the right time,” though he acknowledged, “it will be harsh.”
He also returned to a long-running theme, suggesting that media networks hostile to him should face scrutiny over their broadcast licenses. “When you think about this, 97 percent of the stories are opposed and I win easily the election? That shows they have no credibility,” he said, praising FCC commissioner Brendan Carr as “a patriot” who could weigh in. “Maybe their license should be taken away.”
Trump sparred at times with reporters, notably ribbing NPR for still being “here,” and defended his recent comments that women who heckled him at a Miami restaurant “should be in jail,” calling the protesters “a threat.”
On Capitol Hill, the House vote to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) drew a sharp reaction. “I think she’s terrible. I think she should be impeached,” Trump said, questioning her criticism of U.S. policy. “If she got censured that’s great. If she got impeached that’s even better.”
The president also took aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, saying he personally requested that the mayor not attend this week’s events. “I think the mayor of London, Khan, is among the worst mayors in the world. … On immigration he’s a disaster,” Trump said, adding that his mother’s Scottish roots gave him “a certain pride in London.”
The president wrapped the gaggle as he began it — with a mix of boast and banter. “I thought the press was really nice,” he said of the British trip, before turning to a final aside about late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel. “Anybody could replace him. The guy had no talent.”
