Trump video portrays Charles as uncaring in edited clip of fainting Asda worker

WorldPolitics
8 Sep 2026 • 8:28 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Trump video portrays Charles as uncaring in edited clip of fainting Asda worker

Donald Trump has posted edited footage of a man fainting in front of the now King in an apparent bid to portray the monarch as uncaring, while seeking to promote his own compassion and warmth.

The viral clip from 2020 featured in a montage of other world leaders seeming to ignore people in distress or being disrespectful, while the American leader is depicted as “the people’s president”, greeting troops and police officers, honouring the war dead, hugging elderly veterans and being a doting husband.

One of the captions in the three-minute film, published on his Truth Social platform during the Labour Day public holiday in the US, said it was “the side of Trump the media doesn’t show you”.

Donald Trump is depicted as ‘the people’s president’ in the short video (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP) (AP)

The segment that included Charles was from more than six years ago when he was the then Prince of Wales, along with the Duchess of Cornwall, visiting an Asda distribution centre in Bristol.

A staff member is seen chatting to the future King before his legs gave way and he fell backwards to the ground.

The shortened clip used by Mr Trump shows the royal appearing to throw up his hands in helplessness, before swiftly turning to walk away from the collapsed man, seemingly unmoved.

However, the full footage showed Charles putting out his arm to try and catch the supermarket worker.

Visibly concerned, he then remained close by as the man received medical attention.

He only moved away after his security detail reassured him the individual was OK.

The man quickly recovered and was later able to carry on his conversation with Charles.

The decision by the White House to show the King in an unflattering light is unusual as Mr Trump is an enthusiastic supporter of the royal family, and recently hailed Charles as a “great, great guy”.

The president has also been deeply critical of Harry and Meghan, who recently returned to the UK from the US, as he felt they had treated the monarchy with “great disrespect”, adding he “wouldn’t have taken them back”.

Other figures to be portrayed in a negative way in the video were the French President Emmanuel Macron, who is shown indifferently walking past a ceremonial guard, who had collapsed at the Elysee Palace.

The video also gave an uncomplimentary portrayal of former Democrat presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.

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