Trump shares King Charles' secret request for 293 guests at White House
Trump shares King Charles' secret request for 293 guests at White House
Catherine Mackinlay & Catherine MacKinlay & Abigail HuntSun, October 25, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC
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King Charles III And Queen Camilla State Visit Continues In Washington DC -Credit:Getty (Getty)
Donald Trump has revealed a private request made to him by King Charles — sharing the details just moments after stepping up to speak to reporters at the White House.
The US President disclosed the information while he and First Lady Melania Trump were gathered in the White House Rose Garden for the signing of an executive order on women's health.
Trump had been discussing the limitations of the White House's current event spaces and plans for a larger ballroom when he referenced the King as an example of the significant number of guests officials are sometimes required to accommodate.
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He revealed that Charles had asked whether it would be possible to host 293 guests, saying: "Then we had King Charles come in. Likewise, he said, 'Would it be possible to have 293 people? We have them from the UK, all over the United States. They want to fly in.'"
King Charles III And Queen Camilla State Visit Continues In Washington DC -Credit:Getty
Trump then joked about the difficulty of fitting such a large group, pointing out that the number was roughly three times the room's capacity, reports the Daily Star.
He quipped: "I said, 'Well, it's gonna be a little... It's about three times more than the room holds. That means I would get none.'".
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The President suggested a compromise was eventually reached, explaining: "So we made a little compromise, but we're gonna have no problem very shortly. We're gonna have the kind of room we want."
The President then redirected his attention to the proceedings, expressing his appreciation to the First Lady and those gathered with them in the Rose Garden. He praised Melania's commitment to children and families before announcing that she would be directing her leadership skills toward initiatives aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls across the United States.
The executive order signed by the President and First Lady will create a new White House taskforce on women's health, along with a dedicated division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) focused on this issue.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump after the executive order signing -Credit:Getty Images
Melania stated that the program would "improve outcomes in all phases of life" and set "a new standard for women's health in America".
Mr. Trump's earlier joke about the King arose as he returned to a subject he has repeatedly emphasized - the limited capacity for hosting large gatherings at the White House.
The President has been pushing forward with plans for a new White House ballroom, which would provide a significantly more expansive venue for state dinners and other major events.
Construction began last year, with the new ballroom replacing the East Wing of the White House as part of a broader expansion of the historic landmark.
The White House states that the ballroom will cover approximately 90,000 square feet and accommodate 650 guests - more than triple the 200-person capacity of the East Room. The White House has long maintained that the lack of a sufficiently large permanent venue has historically required the construction of temporary structures on the grounds for high-profile events involving foreign dignitaries.
The project is expected to cost approximately $250million (£187million) and will be funded by Trump along with other private donors, according to the White House.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
