Donald Trump has described a positive relationship with Queen Elizabeth II, telling biographer Robert Hardman that their first meeting exceeded its scheduled 15 minutes because they liked each other. Trump described the Queen as unbelievable and recounted trying to persuade her to name her favorite U.S. president, asking about Reagan and Eisenhower, to which she replied they were all very nice. He told Hardman he realized her ability to avoid complaints and remain neutral was why she lasted 70 years as monarch, and Trump has deep affection for Britain and the monarchy, according to biographer Robert Hardman.
Trump was the last state visitor of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, according to biographer Robert Hardman. He has also spoken about his current relationship with King Charles, telling Hardman he asked about the King's health and said he is fantastic and he has fought very hard, describing him as a fighter and saying they are close with a really good relationship.
The first time I met her, we were only supposed to have 15 minutes, and it just went on because she liked me and I liked her.
Contrasting sharply with Trump's account, Susan Page's new book reports that Queen Elizabeth II was baffled by the rise of Donald Trump. According to Page, the Queen asked President Barack Obama in April 2016 why this person was so close to running your country. The book also suggests her view of Trump was likely negative due to his comments about Africa, given her devotion to the Commonwealth and close ties with African leaders.
Page's book provides context for the Queen's relationship with Obama, noting she worked to kill the birther claims against him. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes recalled that Obama's relationship with the Queen represented a powerful form of validation for him back home, Page writes.
I kept asking her, 'Who was your favourite president? Was it Reagan? Or Eisenhower?' and she just said, 'They were all very nice'. That sort of thing.
The timing and circumstances of Trump's meetings with the Queen are detailed in Page's book, which notes it took a year and a half into his first term before he met her face-to-face. On July 12, 2018, when Trump arrived for a working visit, the Queen was at Windsor Castle meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar. During that meeting with religious leaders, she wore a light pink floral dress and a small vintage pin depicting a green flower made from yellow gold, diamonds, and moss agate, according to Page's book.
Page's book catalogs controversial actions and remarks by Trump that likely influenced the Queen's view, including that he had attacked the Bushes, faulted George W. Bush for the 9/11 attacks, publicly berated her prime minister, and labeled African nations in a derogatory way. Trump confirmed he made the derogatory remark about African nations nearly eight years later in December 2025, according to Page's book.
So then I tried her on, 'Who’s your favourite prime minister? Must have been Churchill, right?' And she said again, 'No, they were all very nice'.
Trump's persistent questioning of the Queen about Prince Harry and Meghan is also documented. According to Page's book, Trump said he asked her about it constantly, saying he would urge her to tell him what she really thought. In reference to the fallout in the Royal family, Trump said he really thought it hurt her and that he just didn't think they treated her with the respect that she should have, according to Page's book.
Trump developed a theory that he was the Queen's favorite president, telling Page they just got along. He also said he couldn't get her to say a bad thing about anybody, regarding his encounter with her, according to Page's book.
So I realised: that’s why she lasted 70 years without a complaint – because she was so good at it. The rest of us would have said, 'Oh, I liked so-and-so'. But she was so clever. And I know she liked me because we talked a lot.
Reactions to Trump's theory were mixed. His then-ambassador Woody Johnson agreed with it, telling Page the president has a very keen sense of things like that. However, some former presidents and first ladies were skeptical of Trump's presumption, according to Page's book.
Specific dismissive responses came from Jill Biden, who said that's hysterical, and Joe Biden, who shook his head, according to Page's book. Hillary Clinton responded by saying why am I not surprised by that and added she didn't think there is any evidence to believe that could possibly be true, according to Page's book.
unbelievable
The broader context of the UK's soft power is highlighted in these accounts. Harvard Professor Joseph Nye told biographer Robert Hardman that the English language and the Royal Family are the UK's two greatest soft power assets.
Current tensions in UK-US relations are affecting the diplomatic landscape. The publication of Susan Page's book comes as the special relationship has been tested by Donald Trump's frustrations with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's response to the war in Iran. Trump is expected to meet King Charles during a U.S. state visit in April, according to Page's book.
He’s fantastic and he has fought very hard. He’s a fighter. We’re close. I have a really good relationship with him.
These tensions have led to calls for delaying the royal visit. Last week, a senior UK lawmaker joined calls for King Charles's visit to the U.S. to be delayed amid worsening relations between the UK and US.
Several unknowns remain central to this historical and diplomatic puzzle. Queen Elizabeth II's true personal opinion of Donald Trump is unclear given the conflicting reports, and the specific actions she took to kill the birther conspiracy theory against Barack Obama have not been detailed. Furthermore, how Trump's April meeting with King Charles will proceed amid current tensions, and how other world leaders and historians are responding to the claims in Susan Page's book, are yet to be seen.
Let me just give you the bottom line. He’s a great guy and he’s grown so much in the last ten years and especially over the last couple of years as King. His fight has shown that.
Why is this person so close to running your country?
a powerful form of validation
I asked her about it constantly. I'd say, 'Come on, tell me (what you really think).'
No, no. It's very nice.
I really think it hurt her. I just don't think they treated her with the respect that she should have, frankly.
I said, 'So could I ask you who was your favorite president?'
Why? They were all so good.
I couldn't get her to say a bad thing about anybody.
We just got along.
That’s hysterical.
Why am I not surprised by that? I don’t think there is any evidence to believe that could possibly be true.