Donald Trump has consistently implied a special bond with Queen Elizabeth II, even asserting he was her favorite president. However, fresh reporting from Susan Page‘s forthcoming book unveils a complex dynamic where the Queen’s renowned diplomatic grace met Trump’s desire for personal validation, revealing less about favoritism and more about her unparalleled ability to navigate unpredictable world leaders.
The centerpiece of Donald Trump‘s 2019 state visit to the United Kingdom was a white-tie banquet at Buckingham Palace, where he sat between Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. For Trump, this moment was the pinnacle of his presidency—a personal milestone symbolizing global stature. He later told U.S. Ambassador Woody Johnson that the Queen had the “most special relationship” and “most special impact” on him among all world leaders he met.
Trump’s admiration was palpable. Former National Security Council staffer Fiona Hill noted he was “slightly awestruck” when discussing the Queen, his voice and face softening. “A meeting with the Queen of England was the ultimate sign that he, Trump, had made it in life,” she observed. This awe stemmed from her personal charm and storied history, but also from the reflective stature she provided.
The visit itself was hard-won. The Trump administration had pushed for Marine One to land on Buckingham Palace grounds for dramatic visuals, despite the Queen’s fury over the helicopter’s blades ruining her garden—a grievance she later aired to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Yet, on June 3, 2019, nothing could dampen Trump’s experience. The banquet hosted eight Trumps and 16 royals across three generations, totaling 170 guests.
During their lively conversation, Trump directly asked the Queen who her favorite president was. Her response was a masterclass in diplomatic deflection: “Why? They were all so good.” When pressed on Ronald Reagan, she conceded, “Oh, yes, I liked him very much, but they were all good.” She extended this to prime ministers, praising Winston Churchill but insisting all worked hard. Trump was dazzled. “I said to myself, how genius is this?” he remarked. “I couldn’t get her to say a bad thing about anybody.”
This encounter prompted rare self-reflection from Trump. He admitted, “She was sort of the opposite of me. She didn’t mix it up.” He marveled at her discipline, noting she “never made a mistake” over decades—a stark contrast to his own tumultuous style. This perception of perfection fueled his belief in a unique connection.
The Diplomatic Tightrope: When Politics Turned Personal
The state visit’s highlight was the Queen’s extensive personal engagement with Trump, documented in cables from British Ambassador Kim Darroch. He called the visit a “gamble” that “paid handsomely,” noting Trump’s team was “dazzled” and relations were “in the best state ever.” However, this euphoria shattered weeks later when Darroch’s candid cables from 2017 leaked, calling Trump “insecure” and his administration dysfunctional.
Trump was “absolutely livid,” recalled National Security Adviser John Bolton. The President demanded Darroch’s removal, though Bolton explained the U.S. couldn’t fire a foreign ambassador. Behind the scenes, the Queen reached out to calm tensions—a role she played for decades. Trump revealed a previously unreported conversation: “She said, ‘He doesn’t speak for our government.’ Oh, she was furious over that. He was a total lightweight.”
Trump’s account evolved: initially saying she apologized, then clarifying it wasn’t an apology but a distancing from Darroch’s comments. “She didn’t have to apologize,” he concluded. “She just said how terrible he was to do such a thing.” Her subtle disapproval was enough to placate Trump without sacrificing diplomatic decorum.
Myth vs. Reality: The Queen’s Relationships with Presidents
Trump’s belief that he was the Queen’s favorite president clashed with accounts from those who knew her well. Palace officials and British government insiders reacted with “startled laughter” to the notion. Historically, her bonds with presidents like Dwight Eisenhower (a hero), Ronald Reagan (a friend), and George W. Bush (she met more than any other) were deeper. Her fondness for Barack Obama was also reportedly clear.
Some analysts suggest the Queen possessed a maternal diplomatic gift—making each leader feel uniquely valued without ever playing favorites. As former Prime Minister David Cameron noted, she was a “very good diplomat” who was “very discreet about those sorts of things.” Others, like Jill Biden, dismissed Trump’s claim as characteristic: “Oh, that fits his character, for sure.” Hillary Clinton added, “Why am I not surprised by that? I don’t think there is any evidence to believe that could possibly be true.”
Even Bill Clinton recalled joking with Obama and Biden about how the Queen made every Democratic president feel favored, calling her “shrewd” and “no dummy.” He’d be “shocked” if she ever identified a favorite, stating, “I have no idea what she really thought of any of us.”
Why This Matters: Diplomacy, Ego, and Historical Narrative
This dynamic underscores a critical aspect of international relations: the personal rapport between heads of state can significantly influence policy, yet monarchs like the Queen are trained to project impartiality. Trump’s need for personal validation clashed with her institutional role, creating a fascinating dissonance. His interpretation of her charm as favoritism reveals more about his psychological need for adulation than about her actual preferences.
Moreover, the incident with Ambassador Darroch highlights the fragility of diplomatic trust in the digital age. The Queen’s quiet intervention—condemning the leak without endorsing the ambassador—showcased her ability to manage crises with minimal fallout. For Trump, it reinforced his perception of her as a powerful, infallible figure, further feeding his narrative of a unique bond.
Historically, the Queen hosted 113 state visits during her reign; Trump’s 2019 dinner was her last. This fact alone—that she maintained composure and diplomacy with a leader as volatile as Trump until the very end—speaks to her extraordinary skill. Whether she privately favored anyone remains unknown, but her public legacy is one of unwavering duty and strategic grace.
The Enduring Enigma of Royal Favor
In the end, Trump’s claim of being the Queen’s favorite president appears to be a self-serving myth, nurtured by her exceptional ability to make every guest feel honored. As Susan Page’s book excerpts reveal, the Queen’s conversations were always carefully curated, avoiding controversy or preference. Her legendary discipline meant she never publicly slighted a leader, even those she might have privately disdained—as suggested by secondhand reports from figures like horse trainer Monty Roberts, who claimed she disliked bullies like Vladimir Putin and Trump.
This episode serves as a case study in the difference between personal perception and diplomatic reality. For Trump, the Queen reflected the stature he coveted; for her, he was just another president to be managed with impeccable tact. The true lesson lies not in who was favored, but in how the institution of the monarchy endured through her steady hand, even as it engaged with the most unpredictable of leaders.
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