King Charles gave Magas a brutal lesson in democracy and the way they obediently lapped it up just made it even better

There was no end of people (okay, us included) who thought it might not be an entirely good idea for King Charles to pay a state visit to Donald Trump given the perilous state of UK-US relations right now.

And it turns out, like Trump on a daily basis, we couldn’t have been more wrong.

There was no end of moments in the King’s speech to Congress that had us cheering, but they didn’t come any better than this, when he issued what was basically a brutal lesson in democracy to the attendant Magas in the room and the way they obediently lapped it up just made it even better.

Standing ovation for this line from King Charles: The U.S. Supreme court historical society has calculated that Magna Carta is cited in at least 160 supreme court cases since 1789, not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and… pic.twitter.com/2zLlu6jdYy

— Acyn (@Acyn) April 28, 2026

Not so much a thinly veiled warning about what Trump is doing with the American constitution as not veiled at all, in any respect.

And these people surely said it best.

1.

Hilariously, all Republicans jumped up to applaud when King Charles mentioned the need for the Executive branch to have “checks and balances.”

They have ALL FAILED miserably to check and balance trump. pic.twitter.com/H0zqeZTbdq

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) April 28, 2026

2.

Throwing shade, British style https://t.co/hK5Qf5Uh59

— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) April 28, 2026

3.

This will go beautifully over the head of the person it’s principally aimed at. And is cheered to the rafters by some of those who’ve made themselves complicit in his actions. https://t.co/5zd9eaWOuJ

— emily m (@maitlis) April 28, 2026

4.

So Charles dunked on and rebuked Trump for the entirety of his speech, but in British ways so subtle that it went straight over MAGA’s heads and they’re cheering him for it.

Genius.

— Andrew Fox (@Mr_Andrew_Fox) April 28, 2026

5.

A British King goes to the American Congress to remind them and their President of the importance of checks and balances on executive power. History enjoying a good old chuckle. https://t.co/bJylr8Mgcf

— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) April 28, 2026

6.

Imagine being so slow that you start clapping without realizing he’s talking about you. It’s also so sad that the King of England understands the US constitution more than some elected officials who swore an oath to protect and defend the constitution.

— (@ChidiNwatu) April 28, 2026

7.

Republicans clapping not realizing he’s not talking about them. https://t.co/LVBRA2mcH6

— Winter (@LeftyWinter) April 28, 2026