The Royal Navy is engaged in discussions about dispatching HMS Prince of Wales across the Atlantic to participate in America's Independence Day festivities, despite President Trump's repeated disparagement of British warships.
The Labour government is considering sending the 65,000-ton aircraft carrier to New York for the July 4 celebrations, which commemorate the American victory over Britain in 1776.
Mr Trump has consistently derided the vessel and its sister ship, the £3.2bn HMS Queen Elizabeth, describing them as "toys" and "old and broken down".
During a cabinet meeting last week, the president declared: "We had the UK say 'we'll send our aircraft carriers', which aren't the best aircraft carriers. They're toys compared to what we have. We don't need it, and we don't need them".
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The prospect of the voyage has provoked fury within military circles.
"This just feels humiliating," one source told the Telegraph, "why should we send the carrier to join an event marking the defeat of Britain, for a president who has called us cowards and mocked our ships?"
The criticism follows Mr Trump's broader attacks on Britain's armed forces, including his January remarks claiming British troops had "stayed a little off the front lines" in Afghanistan, which sparked widespread outrage.
Days after his initial comments about the carriers, the president intensified his mockery, ridiculing Sir Keir Starmer over his reluctance to deploy warships to the Middle East.
Royal Navy in talks to join US Independence Day celebrations despite Donald Trump insults
| GETTY"I said 'you have two, old broken-down aircraft carriers, do you think you could send them over?'" Mr Trump said, before impersonating the Prime Minister with a weak voice: "Oh I'll have to ask my team".
Downing Street has yet to reach a final decision on whether the 920ft-long carrier will make the transatlantic journey.
Discussions about this year's potential visit have been ongoing for months, with the talks understood to predate the president's disparaging remarks about the carriers, and his criticism of Sir Keir for not sending warships to support US operations amid the Iran conflict.
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HMS Prince of Wales is currently scheduled to lead a carrier strike group during a Nato exercise in Arctic waters in the coming weeks - a drill considered vital for deterring Russian naval activity near British shores.
Should approval be granted, the New York trip would likely follow completion of the High North exercise.
A Navy source said: "No final decision has been made. All these conversations are still taking place. But it will be up to the secretary of state to make the decision on what the ship may or may not do".
Admiral Lord Alan West, a former first sea lord, expressed confidence that the carrier would likely make the journey to New York.
Donald Trump described British naval vessels as 'toys' and 'old and broken down'
| GETTY"It would be nice to let the Americans see her and to show Trump just how capable our carriers are," he said, "fully fitted out with 36 F-35s, the carriers are incredibly capable".
If the visit proceeds, HMS Prince of Wales would likely join American vessels for the annual Fleet Week celebration on the Hudson River.
The Royal Navy has previously participated in the event, with HMS Protector attending in 2022 and HMS Scott in 2023.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth added to the criticism of Britain earlier this week, remarking: "Last time I checked there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well".