Donald Trump shared an edited clip on Truth Social that made King Charles appear indifferent to a collapsing worker during a 2019 Asda visit in Bristol. The full footage shows Charles reaching out to steady the man and remaining nearby while medical staff attended to him. The clip was part of a montage that contrasted flattering images of Mr. Trump with unflattering snippets of other leaders; the Palace has not commented and the video remains live.
Trump’s Altered Video of King Charles Sparks Criticism — Unedited Footage Shows He Assisted Collapsing Worker
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Donald Trump posted an edited clip on Truth Social over the Labour Day weekend that appears to show King Charles walking away from a collapsing worker. The short excerpt — taken from a 2019 visit to an Asda distribution centre in Bristol — was part of a longer montage intended to portray Mr. Trump as compassionate while casting other world leaders as distant or indifferent.
What the Edited Clip Shows
In the manipulated version, the brief sequence is cut to give the impression that the then-Prince of Wales raises his hands and leaves the scene as an employee collapses. The edit was paired with flattering footage of Mr. Trump greeting troops, embracing elderly veterans and honoring fallen soldiers, underscoring the montage’s contrast-driven message.
What the Full Footage Reveals
Unedited video of the 2019 encounter tells a different story. The full footage shows Charles reaching out to steady the worker as he fell, remaining nearby while medical staff attended to him, and stepping away only after security confirmed the man was all right. The employee recovered quickly and later resumed his conversation with the royal.
Other Targets in the Montage
The Truth Social post also included clips of other leaders in ways that critics say were misleading: footage that appears to show French President Emmanuel Macron walking past a collapsed ceremonial guard at the Élysée Palace, a brief moment of Joe Biden checking his watch during a solemn event, and a shot of Barack Obama holding a paper cup while saluting — the so-called "latte salute."
Trump’s post carried the caption "the side of Trump the media doesn't show you," clearly intended to frame the montage as a corrective. The choice to include the King drew particular attention because Mr. Trump has publicly expressed admiration for the royal family and recently called Charles "a great, great guy." He has also criticized Prince Harry and Meghan for what he described as showing the monarchy "great disrespect."
Palace sources have not publicly commented on the edited clip, and the video remains available on Mr. Trump's Truth Social account.
Why it matters: The episode highlights how short edits and montage-style presentations can reshuffle context and change public perception of events involving public figures.
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