WASHINGTON, April 29, 2026 King Charles gifts Trump submarine bell at White House King Charles III presented US President Donald Trump with a ceremonial submarine bell from the British HMS *Trump* during a state banquet at the White House, highlighting the historic ties between their nations.
A Symbol of Shared History
The bell, sourced from the 1944-built British submarine HMS *Trump*, was gifted as a tangible link between the UK and the US. During the event, King Charles emphasized the enduring alliance, stating, *"Immer und immer wieder haben unsere beiden Länder Wege gefunden, wieder zusammenzufinden"* ("Time and again, our two nations have found ways to come back together"). He described the artifact as a *"Zeugnis der gemeinsamen Geschichte und der glänzenden Zukunft der beiden Nationen"* ("testament to the shared history and bright future of both nations").
The monarch noted that despite historical differences, the UK and US remain *"instinktiv gleichgesinnt"* ("instinctively like-minded") due to their common traditions. The submarine’s name, *Trump*, was no coincidence—all vessels in the British T-class fleet bore names starting with "T," including *Trump* (German for "Trumpf").
A Nod to Trump’s Branding Obsession
The gift played into President Trump’s well-documented affinity for seeing his name emblazoned on properties and initiatives. Beyond his eponymous hotels, the president’s branding extends to government projects like *TrumpRx*, a website promoting lower drug prices, and the *Trump Gold Card*, a controversial $1 million residency scheme.