Both men are wealthy; the king’s possessions are estimated at nearly $1 billion. Trump’s wealth has grown during his second term to roughly $6.5 billion, thanks in part to gains in cryptocurrency investments and legal rulings that directly benefitted him. Both rulers grew rich by exploiting working-class and oppressed people around the world.

Beyond their personal wealth, the president and the king represent imperialist powers. Once upon a time Britain was the dominant world power, having colonized one quarter of the world’s people. It was said that “the sun never sets on the British Empire,” because somewhere in that vast area of colonial conquest the sun was always shining.

There are still 56 countries that belong to the “Commonwealth,” and 15 of those recognized Charles as their king. But most of Britain’s former colonies have been independent for decades, and Britain is considered the junior partner of the most powerful imperialist country since the end of World War II — the U.S.

At the same time, U.S. imperialism is now in decline, eclipsed by the growing economic strength of socialist China while being defeated by Iran. Whatever happened or didn’t happen during the visit of Charles and his spouse Camilla, it won’t boost the fortunes of world imperialism.

While elements of the bourgeois media are praising the king for how he “handled” the U.S. president, pushing back against Trump’s attempt to undermine NATO, one thing should be clear: Britain and the U.S. are two capitalist powers that want to destroy both the People’s Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

No amount of tariff-free Scotch whiskey can drown the gloomy scenario facing the capitalist class. But it’s up to working-class and oppressed people to overthrow that class and usher in a new, socialist society that puts human needs first — one that has no use for capitalists, monarchs or – presidents and dictators who would be king.