The alleged exchange took place in the East Room after King Charles delivered remarks intended to strengthen United Kingdom-United States relations, according to an analysis by lip reader Nicola Hickling published in The Sun. Charles had completed a speech filled with jokes about the two nations' shared history when Trump approached him.
Based on Hickling's interpretation, Charles first asked Trump, "Where's your drink?" Trump responded with praise, saying "Great job" while moving closer, then appeared to address the King's question by saying, "It's not moved." Trump then seemingly asked, "Are you drunk?" Both men were holding glasses of champagne during the interaction. Charles appeared to respond with "Absolutely," followed by comments about the state visit and Trump's hospitality.
Hickling offered an analysis of the men's body language during the exchange. She characterized the moment as "notably more relaxed and informal," suggesting that Charles appeared playful and used humor to soften the interaction, while Trump leaned into the praise and kept the tone light. She noted that Trump placing a hand on Charles's shoulder "suggests familiarity and an attempt to project warmth" and described the overall exchange as reflecting "a shift from formal diplomacy to a more performative, social dynamic in front of the room."
During his earlier remarks at the dinner, King Charles made several lighthearted references to historical events and Trump's known preferences. He joked about Britain's 1814 burning of the White House, stating, "I'm sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814," in reference to Trump's stated plan to rebuild the East Wing into a gilded ballroom. Charles also described the state dinner as "a considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party" and made a joking reference to Trump's well-documented preference for Coca-Cola.
