Politics - News Analysis

Trump Invited to DC Memorial Service for Queen Elizabeth After Not Making Cut for Official Funeral Invite

Although former President Donald Trump was left off the guest list for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, he’s been invited by the British government to attend a memorial service for her in Washington, D.C., The Independent reports.

According to an invitation for the event, the memorial will be a “Service of Thanksgiving for The Life of Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth,” and it will be held at Washington’s National Cathedral.

Invitations were sent Thursday to all living U.S. ex-presidents, including Trump, Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and their spouses, according to The Telegraph.

The National Cathedral has hosted state funerals for four former U.S. Presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush, and has also held several memorial services. The Cathedral can hold as many as 1700 and it’s expected to be filled to capacity for the service.

The Telegraph also notes Prime Minister Liz Truss isn’t likely to attend the event.

The memorial service for the Queen was organized by the British Embassy in Washington, and it’s likely the event will be attended by a number of dignitaries, including senior members of Congress and all foreign ambassadors. Earlier this week, President Joe Biden accepted the invitation to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in London.

According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, an invitation was transmitted on Saturday and Biden accepted it on Sunday.

“The invitation was extended to the U.S. government for the President and the first lady,” Jean-Pierre said.

Trump seemed to be saddened by the Queen’s passing, having been invited for a state visit in 2019, and on his Truth Social media platform, he poured out effusive (for him, anyway) praise for her.

“Melania and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Together with our family and fellow Americans, we send our sincere condolences to the Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom during this time of great sorrow and grief,” he wrote.

“Melania and I will always cherish our time together with the Queen, and never forget Her Majesty’s generous friendship, great wisdom, and wonderful sense of humor. What a grand and beautiful lady she was— there was nobody like her!”

I don’t really know what Queen Elizabeth, who was graciousness personified, really thought of Donald Trump but the former president was not beloved by some of the world’s other foreign dignitaries. French President Emanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany come to mind here. As does Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump embarrassed himself and the country numerous times in front of these people and I sometimes think the royal family perhaps arranged the funeral situation so that Trump wouldn’t complicate matters during a difficult time.

But that’s just me.

meet the author

Megan has lived in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida and she currently lives in Central America. Living in these places has informed her writing on politics, science, and history. She is currently owned by 15 cats and 3 dogs and regularly owns Trump supporters when she has the opportunity. She can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GaiaLibra and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/politicalsaurus

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