Donald Trump has managed to turn an ordinary royal visit from six years ago into a fresh international controversy, and this time it is King Charles III who has found himself unexpectedly caught in the middle after the president shared an edited video on Truth Social that appeared to show the then Prince of Wales simply walking away while a man collapsed in front of him.

At first glance, the footage looks terrible for Charles because, without the missing context, it appears as though the future King was cold and aloof as he watched the man fall.

In the footage. then Prince Charles throws up his hands and then casually walks away, creating precisely the impression of indifference that the three-minute montage appears designed to convey. The problem is that the original footage tells a very different story: Charles actually reached out as the worker began to fall and remained nearby while the man received medical attention, only moving away after it was clear that help had arrived and the situation was under control.

That missing footage changes everything. Trump’s montage contrasted clips of other public figures with footage intended to present him as compassionate and attentive, including moments of him greeting police officers, honoring military personnel, embracing veterans and interacting with members of the public, while the caption described it as “the side of Trump the media doesn’t show you.” The video also portrayed Trump as “the people’s president,” making the edited Charles clip part of a much larger attempt to create a particular contrast between the president and the other figures featured.

The Charles footage came from July 2020, when he was still Prince of Wales and visited an Asda distribution centre in Bristol with Camilla. An employee was speaking with Charles when he suddenly became unsteady and collapsed backwards, and although Trump’s version cuts away in a way that makes the royal appear unconcerned, the complete footage shows Charles putting out his arm in an attempt to catch the man before remaining close by while assistance was provided. The employee subsequently recovered and was able to continue his conversation with Charles.

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The timing of the semi-fake video is particularly awkward. Charles and Trump had only recently shared a highly publicized state visit in Washington, where Trump, with Melania Trump by his side, was publicly warm toward the British monarch and praised him at the White House, even joking about Charles’ ability to win bipartisan applause during his historic address to Congress — something Trump said he had never managed himself. Trump went on to call Charles “the greatest King, in my book.”

He also described Charles’ “intellect, passion, and devotion” as a “long — really, long” blessing to Britain and to the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom, while also declaring that “no tribute could be more appropriate” than honoring the British King as America approached its 250th anniversary.

Trump’s praise did not stop there. During the state visit, he spoke of the King’s “thoughtfulness” and dedication.

Then came Trump’s video. Suddenly, the same King Trump had praised was being presented to millions through an old, selectively edited clip that made him appear uncaring toward someone who had collapsed.

Trump’s bizarre video has pushed another claim to attract attention. A source told Yahoo that there was “a degree of discomfort at the discovery” that Trump and Charles are distantly related, adding that Charles “basically detests everything Trump stands for.”

The source went further: “He is, frankly, sickened to know they have any relation. He hates Trump’s foreign policy, environmental policy, his manners, and his personality – but even he can see the humor in him being related to someone he hates.”

King Charles has never revealed how he privately feels about Trump, but sources have told the Mail that he often disagrees with the president and is stunned by some of his actions, including the feud with Pope Leo and his threats to make Canada the 51st state.