The President delivered a toast on Wednesday evening, preceding the state dinner with King Charles III at Windsor Castle, where he extolled the “special relationship” shared by the U.S. and U.K.

Trump stated, “His Majesty spoke eloquently about the bond that inspired Sir Winston Churchill – whose bust is currently in the Oval Office – to coin the phrase ‘special relationship,’ but from an American perspective, the term ‘special’ barely captures its essence.” He added, “We are united by history and fate, by affection and language, and by profound ties of culture, tradition, ancestry, and destiny.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump, along with First Lady Melania Trump, joined and other members of the royal family at Windsor Castle for the unprecedented second state visit.

Typically, they shy away from engaging in partisan issues, as the family avoids public comment and remains neutral on hot-button issues — a convention President Trump has at times disregarded.

However, the president’s toast appeared to remain neutral even as he addressed free speech, an issue that has caused contention in the U.S. and in recent months.

“The British Empire established the foundations of law, liberty, free speech, and individual rights virtually everywhere the Union Jack has flown, including a place called America,” he stated, in a message that could garner attention as the U.K. government challenges criticisms regarding free-speech matters.

U.K. online safety laws have been a source of dispute and heated political exchanges not only in Britain, but also among top American leaders like Vice President, who did not attend the state visit on Wednesday.

Additional free speech criticisms have emerged in the U.K. concerning abortion laws, online comments, and what some, including right-wing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, have labeled an “authoritarian” crackdown comparable to legislation observed in places like North Korea.