In a lighthearted moment at the White House, President Donald Trump shared a personal family anecdote regarding his Scottish mother’s deep-seated admiration for the British Royal Family.
Speaking during a formal event on the second day of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit to the United States, the President recalled how his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, would often praise the monarch.
To the amusement of those in attendance, Trump revealed that she once described a young King Charles as “cute,” jokingly adding, “My mother had a crush on Charles—can you believe it?”
The President spoke extensively about his mother’s roots in the Hebridean island of Lewis, describing the region as “real serious Scotland” and the birthplace of “the greatest of warriors.” Mary Anne MacLeod emigrated from Stornoway to New York in 1930 at the age of 19, later marrying Fred Trump.
The President gestured upward during his remarks, reflecting on her legacy and wondering aloud what she would think of the day’s proceedings. King Charles was seen laughing as the President detailed his mother’s lifelong fascination with the monarchy.
Beyond the humor, Trump emphasized the profound impact the Royal Family had on his childhood home. He recounted how his mother would remain “glued to the television” whenever the late Queen Elizabeth II appeared in a ceremony, urging a young Donald to “look how beautiful that is”.
He told the King directly that his mother “really did love the family,” noting that her Scottish heritage played a significant role in her reverence for the Crown and its traditions.
The anecdote provides a rare personal glimpse into the President’s background as the son of an immigrant. Born in 1912 in the village of Tong, Mary Anne MacLeod was part of a major wave of Scots who sought better economic opportunities in North America during the early 20th century.
Her journey from the outer edges of the Hebrides to the heart of New York high society remains a cornerstone of the Trump family narrative, now further immortalized by this diplomatic exchange at the highest level of government.
