Rod Stewart Praises King Charles for Putting ‘That Little Ratbag’ Trump ‘In His Place’

Sir Rod Stewart, the gravelly-voiced icon behind timeless hits like "Maggie May" and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?," has once again proven his talent for creating viral moments. At a high-profile London reception on Monday evening, the 79-year-old rocker was caught on camera delivering what many interpreted as a direct swipe at former U.S. President Donald Trump while greeting King Charles III. The footage, which spread rapidly across social media, shows Stewart telling the monarch, "You were superb, absolutely superb… put that little ratbag in his place." This remark is widely believed to reference Charles's recent state visit to the United States, during which he addressed Congress and met with Trump at the White House. Stewart, a lifelong Labour Party supporter and outspoken critic of conservative politics, has never shied away from controversial statements, making this incident the latest in a long line of politically charged moments from the singer. The exchange highlights the growing intersection of celebrity activism and royal engagements in an era of 24-hour news cycles.

The video, recorded by a fellow guest, captures Stewart standing alongside Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood while waiting in a receiving line at the event. King Charles, whose back is to the camera, does not appear to react overtly, though The Independent reported that the monarch "appeared to laugh off the comment." Stewart then turned to Queen Camilla, clarifying, "I was just congratulating your husband on his wonderful performance in the Americas, so great, so brave, so proud." This is far from the first time Stewart has targeted Trump. In January, the singer released a video statement calling the former president a "draft dodger" and demanding an apology for Trump's remarks about U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan. "I was born just after the war, and have great respect for our armed forces," Stewart said at the time. "It hurts me badly, deeply, when I read that the draft dodger Trump has criticized our troops." Stewart's own military service—he briefly served in the British Army's 10th Royal Hussars in the 1960s—lends credibility to his criticism, particularly given Trump's Vietnam-era draft deferments due to a bone spur diagnosis. This background adds a layer of personal authority to Stewart's political interventions, which have included endorsements of Labour leaders and vocal opposition to Brexit.

King Charles's own remarks during his four-day U.S. visit in late April were far more diplomatic, though some observers detected subtle digs woven into his carefully crafted language. At a state dinner at the White House, the monarch joked about the British burning the White House in 1814 and presented Trump with a bell from HMS Trump, a WWII-era submarine—a gesture many saw as a clever nod to the former president's name. However, his address to Congress carried sharper undertones. According to Politico, the speech was "laced with plenty of shade," as Charles emphasized the critical importance of checks and balances and referenced the Magna Carta's foundational role in U.S. legal history. He also defended NATO and Ukraine, urging leaders to "ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking." Political analysts have noted that these comments appeared to push back against Trump's "America First" policies, even though Charles never mentioned the former president by name. Stewart, meanwhile, continues to make waves with his outspoken political views, a stark contrast to the typically reserved demeanor of British rock royalty like Paul McCartney or Elton John. This incident underscores the increasingly blurred lines between celebrity activism and royal diplomacy in the modern media landscape, where a single offhand remark can dominate headlines for days. As one royal commentator noted, "When a rock star and a monarch align on a political jab, it signals a cultural moment that transcends mere entertainment."