John Cleese Sparks Debate After Recent Donald Trump UK Dinner Remark

President Donald Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom this week has been marked by pomp, politics, and plenty of controversy. From a royal dinner at Windsor Castle with King Charles III and the Princess of Wales to a tense press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump’s remarks have dominated headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. But it was comedian John Cleese who cut through the spectacle with a sharp critique that’s now going viral.

Cleese, best known as a member of "Monty Python," reshared a clip of Trump’s UK speech.

In the video, Trump declared:

“We, as a country, are doing unbelievably well. We had a very sick country one year ago, and today, I believe, we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world. In fact, nobody’s even questioning it, but we owe so much of that to you. And the footing that you gave us when we started.”

Cleese’s commentary quickly gained traction online, with supporters praising his bluntness while critics accused him of belittling a visiting head of state.

Cleese’s pointed remark about Trump quickly set off a storm of replies online, with users debating both the comedian’s tone and Trump’s message.

Some echoed Cleese’s disdain with biting humor. “It must be sad looking back on a far distant horizon that you will never again traverse, knowing that, on the other side of it, is your sense of humor,” one user quipped. Another jabbed at Trump’s speech style, writing, “He might be a ‘true vulgarian’ by English standards … but directionally, he’s correct. I prefer that to your leaders slowly asphyxiating English culture while speaking the Queen’s English.”

Others defended Trump fiercely. “Why do you people hate success? Why do you hate to see America succeed?” one commenter asked, telling critics to “go to Russia or Cuba” if they wanted a different system. Another praised Trump’s outlook, insisting, “AND it is FANTASTIC… Always look on the bright side of life man… These are great times we are creating.”

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were welcomed at Windsor Castle, where King Charles III hosted a lavish white-tie state dinner. Trump sat between His Majesty and Kate, Princess of Wales, during the banquet. This visit cemented Trump as the first U.S. president to receive two official state visits to the UK (His first was in 2019 under Queen Elizabeth II.)

The trip wasn’t without political fireworks. In a joint press conference with Starmer, Trump sparked debate by suggesting the UK could use military force to address the small boat migrant crisis.

He also said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “let [him] down” as both the U.S. and UK pledged to continue pressuring Moscow toward a Ukraine peace deal. On the Middle East, Trump diverged sharply from Starmer, voicing opposition to recognizing a Palestinian state.

Cleese’s swipe at Trump didn’t come out of nowhere. The 85-year-old comedian is no stranger to fiery political commentary, and he’s weathered backlash for it before. Cleese often frames himself as an “old-fashioned liberal,” even as he’s taken high-profile gigs with outlets like the conservative-leaning GB News in the U.K., a combination that has only amplified reactions to his remarks.

His social posts have repeatedly crossed into controversy. In late 2023, Cleese ignited a major backlash after likening aspects of Donald Trump’s rhetoric to Adolf Hitler, a comparison he later apologized for amid the storm it caused. And earlier this year he stirred new outrage with a now-deleted post responding to comments about “suspending habeas corpus.”

Cleese had mocked the idea, and then added, pointedly and provocatively, that the official proposing it might be “suspended” himself, even using the phrase “Preferably by the neck,” a line that drew condemnation for its violent imagery and was removed shortly afterward.

In 2024, the "Monty Python" star lit up X with a blistering reaction to a Trump campaign speech in Potterville, Michigan. Inspired by an MSNBC op-ed that transcribed sections of the address, Cleese mocked the Republican nominee’s rambling style, which jumped from Kamala Harris’ policies to his San Francisco property dealings and even to his standing among “horribly treated” ex-presidents.

“It shows beyond doubt that he has lost his mind,” Cleese declared, before urging followers: “Please go to MSNBC and read it.” He went on to label Trump a “deranged man” and cautioned voters not to back him.

Despite Cleese’s prediction, Trump ultimately went on to win the 2024 election, though that outcome hasn’t stopped the comedian from continuing to speak out against him.