Rod Stewart used a charity gala for King Charles on May 11, 2026, to deliver a line that drew laughter and a possible political reading. The 81-year-old singer congratulated the king on his successful four-day trip to the United States and then said, “May I say, well done in the Americas.”
Stewart, speaking at The King’s Trust’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in London, added, “You were superb. Absolutely superb. You put that little rat bag in his place.” King Charles appeared to smile at the remark, which many people took as a joke about Donald Trump.
The moment landed because Trump had organized Charles’s state visit to the U.S. from April 27 to April 30, 2026, making the quip impossible to miss for anyone following the diplomatic backdrop. Stewart did not name Trump, but the comment arrived with the kind of timing that turned a charity tribute into a political aside.
The singer and Trump were once on friendly terms and had been photographed several times. Stewart also said in an interview last year that he was “not a great fan of Trump,” though he recalled knowing him “very, very well” and said he used to go to his house. He added that they are neighbours in Florida and described Trump as “always been a bit of a man’s man,” saying, “I liked him for that.”
That view did not last. Stewart said Trump “didn’t, as far as I’m concerned, treat women very well,” and added that “since he became President, he became another guy. Somebody I didn’t know.” He also said, “No, I can’t any more. As long as he’s selling arms to the Israelis – and he still is.” The latest exchange at the Royal Albert Hall suggests Stewart’s distance from Trump has only grown more public.
