Trump welcomed the royal Dutch couple at the White House, but some couldn’t help notice the height difference (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The King and Queen of the Netherlands touched down in Washington on Monday for a highly anticipated meeting with President Donald Trump, who extended an invitation for the royal couple to stay overnight at the White House, even as he continues to threaten withdrawal from the NATO alliance.
However, a cordial photograph taken of the royal pair alongside the president may have inadvertently cast doubt on longstanding claims made by Trump and the White House regarding the American president’s stature.
Trump has consistently maintained that he stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall, which would place him as the third-tallest president in US history, behind Abraham Lincoln and Lyndon B. Johnson (both 6 feet, 4 inches tall). In April of last year, the White House released a partial summary of Trump’s medical examination, detailing his height and weight.
The document recorded Trump’s height as 75 inches, or 6 feet, 3 inches. Were this accurate, it would place him level with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, who is widely reported to stand between 6 feet, 2 inches and 6 feet, 3 inches tall.
Yet as Monday’s photographs clearly showed, Trump appears to stand at least two to three inches shorter than Willem-Alexander.
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Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima’s visit to the White House forms part of a three-day diplomatic tour, which also takes in appearances in Philadelphia and Miami.
Their talks come as the US-Israeli conflict with Iran intensifies and as the president continues to openly speculate about pulling the US out of the trans-Atlantic defence alliance and annexing Greenland.
Despite widespread concern and condemnation of the visit from people across the Netherlands, the Dutch royals issued a statement declaring their intention to strengthen the European nation’s relationship with the U.S. and reflect upon their “deep historical and cultural ties.
“The relations and the mutual transatlantic ties between the US and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are important for security and prosperity,” the Royal House of the Netherlands wrote.
“The working visit aims to underscore and strengthen the relationship and intensive cooperation in numerous fields at both the federal and state levels. The visit offers an opportunity, in the year that the US celebrates 250 years of independence, to reflect on the deep historical and cultural ties between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the US,” it added.
Back in the Netherlands, politicians and members of the public alike have cautioned the royals that meeting Trump places them on the wrong side of history, according to The New York Times.
Both men are reported to stand at six feet, three inches however Trump appeared shorter than thre Dutch king in pictures (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
A public petition sought to persuade them to call off the trip, while Prime Minister Rob Jetten faced a torrent of questions from journalists regarding Trump’s threats to obliterate Iran’s civilisation last week.
Jetten, who is also due to dine with the king, queen and U.S. president on Monday, described the threat as “truly very concerning,” yet stopped short of confirming whether a full-scale American assault on Iran would prompt him to withdraw from the visit, the Times reported. In a social media post last Wednesday, Trump renewed his threats against Greenland and once again accused NATO of abandoning the U.S. during its conflict alongside Israel against Iran.
“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,” Trump wrote, echoing earlier remarks from Leavitt. “REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!” he added.
Despite the apparent height difference, the pair looked to be in good spirits (Image: AP)
Although Trump and his aides appeared to have largely stepped back from their January demands for complete control of the sovereign island nation, his fury at the alliance appeared to thrust the notion back into his sights several months later.
In late January, Trump claimed he had devised “pretty much a concept of a deal” concerning Greenland, a sovereign territory of Denmark, which he would “explain down the line” — having just hours earlier declared he wanted the island, “including, right, title and ownership.”
Since beginning his second term, Trump has issued threats of military action against Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Cuba and Colombia.