Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions in parliament in London, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. A Republican Congressman has described Keir Starmer as a “leftist weenie” in a bizarre attack.
Michael Baumgartner slammed the prime minister while praising King Charles’s speech to the US Congress on Tuesday night.
The American politician suggested the monarch was trying to send a message to the UK as much as to the US, urging Britain to “do what’s necessary” and bolster its military.
He told BBC Newsnight: “As Republicans, what I think the chamber heard as much was King Charles speaking to Britain, and reassuring America that Britain will do what’s necessary and have a capable military.
“As opposed to Keir Starmer who is looked at as a leftist weenie, we saw in King Charles someone who is proud of Britain – and I think that is good.”
He said the monarch’s address promoted a “cultural affinity” between the two countries and a “capability and willingness to meet the world’s challenges together.”
“That’s going to take some work on Britain’s part so we’re glad the King came and spread that message,” Baumgartner said.
Donald Trump has long criticised other Nato members for not spending enough on their defence and relying on America’s support.
He has also lashed out at his allies for not backing up his offensive on Iran, claiming Nato should have come to his aid.
But the King actually described Starmer as “my prime minister” in his speech to Congress, suggesting he supports him.
His address also included many tacit digs at the Trump administration as the monarch gently critiqued the president’s repeated claims that Nato has never helped the US.
Charles reminded Trump that Nato invoked the mutual defence clause for the first time in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and that member states responded by going “shoulder to shoulder”.
He also criticised Trump’s threats to invade Greenland – which is Danish territory and part of Nato – by pointing out that the military alliance was “pledged to each other’s defence, protecting our citizens and interests”.
Pleading for an end to wars like the one in Iran, the King said: “It is my hope, my prayer, that, in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of ploughshares into swords.”
"As opposed to Keir Starmer, who is looked at... as a leftist weenie, we saw in King Charles someone that's proud of Britain..."
Republican Congressman Michael Baumgartner criticises the UK's Prime Minister in response to King Charles' US Congressional address.#Newsnightpic.twitter.com/NuajtPQwbk
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