King Charles III gave a speech to the Canadian Parliament, which was unusual. He emphasized that Canada is an independent country, especially because President Trump had suggested Canada become part of the United States. His visit showed Canada's special position as a member of the Commonwealth, particularly after the US president mentioned Canada becoming the 51st state. In his speech, King Charles acknowledged the big challenges Canada faces in an uncertain world and the worries many Canadians feel. He also promised to protect the French language and Quebec's culture, which are very important to Canadian identity. This was his first visit as King, and it happened at a difficult time. Trump had threatened to put high taxes on Canadian products and criticized the country's military spending. The speech ended by confirming Canada's independence and its plan to join the EU's "REARM Europe" defense project, without mentioning buying anything from the US.