Donald Trump appeared to take a veiled swipe at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex whilst praising the Royal Family during his press conference with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland on Monday.
The US President lavished praise on King Charles III and other senior royals before making pointed remarks about “not great people” outside the UK, comments which royal watchers immediately interpreted as a dig at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who relocated to California in 2020.
Trump said: “Being with Charles, Camilla and everybody, I’ve got to know a lot of the family members. They are great people. They are really great people.” The President then added in what appeared to be a reference to the Sussexes: “And in that sense I think the UK is very lucky. You could have people that weren’t great people.”
The Prime Minister remained notably silent during Trump’s remarks, choosing not to respond to what many perceived as criticism of the California-based royals. The awkward moment came during wide-ranging bilateral talks at Trump’s Scottish golf resort, where the leaders discussed trade agreements, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the war in Ukraine.
Social media erupted following Trump’s comments, with royal watchers quickly picking up on the apparent subtext. I love the shade President Trump throws at Prince Harry & Meghan Markle,” one user posted, whilst another claimed they were certain Trump was “calling them out.
The apparent jibe comes amid ongoing tensions between Trump and the Sussexes. In February, the President described the Duchess as “terrible” when asked about Prince Harry’s visa status in light of his admitted past drug use. Trump has previously stated he is “not a fan” of Meghan, claiming that “Harry is whipped” and “is being led around by his nose.”
The Duke of Sussex appeared to respond to Trump’s criticism at the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Canada earlier this year, where he spoke to 40,000 attendees about “weak moral character in the world” – remarks widely interpreted as aimed at the US President.
Adding to the political tensions, Harry and Meghan have also reportedly donated $500,000 to Democrat rivals of Trump through the Archewell Foundation. Despite calls from some quarters for Harry’s deportation over his visa application and admitted drug use, Trump has declined to pursue the matter, stating he “doesn’t want to do that” as the Duke has “enough problems with his wife.”
The Monday meeting at Turnberry marked a significant moment in UK-US relations, with Trump and Starmer discussing tariffs — including those levied on whisky — and aid to Gaza and Ukraine. The President used the occasion to announce he was shortening his deadline for Vladimir Putin to reach a Ukraine ceasefire from 50 days to “10 or 12 days,” threatening secondary sanctions if no agreement is reached.
On Gaza, both leaders agreed on the urgent need for humanitarian aid. Trump said: “The whole place is a mess. They have to get food and safety right now,” whilst Starmer noted that “people in Britain are revolted at what they’re seeing on their screens.”
The visit forms part of Trump’s five-day Scottish sojourn, during which he has been combining personal time at his golf resorts with high-level diplomacy. On Sunday, he secured a major trade agreement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, setting EU tariffs at 15 per cent rather than the threatened 30 per cent.
Trump’s warm words about the Royal Family align with his long-standing admiration for the monarchy. In February, he accepted an unprecedented second state visit invitation from King Charles III, describing the monarch as “a great, great gentleman” with a “beautiful” signature. The September visit will make Trump the first US President in modern times to receive two full state visits to Britain.
However, palace sources have expressed concern about Trump’s potential to make controversial statements during the upcoming visit. A friend of the monarch told the Daily Beast that King Charles is “very concerned” that Trump could launch into an unfiltered rant about immigration while standing alongside him.
The contrast between Trump’s effusive praise for working royals and his apparent criticism of the Sussexes underscores the complex dynamics within both the Royal Family and UK-US relations. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have faced criticism from various quarters, including former President Trump, whilst maintaining their base in Montecito, California.
During the same press conference, Trump also took aim at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, calling him “a nasty person” who has done “a terrible job.” Unlike his silence on the Sussex comments, Starmer defended Khan, describing him as a “friend” and attempting to defuse the situation.
The meeting concluded with both leaders flying together on Air Force One to Aberdeen for further discussions, with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney joining them for dinner. Also accompanying the president on this leg of the trip were his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, along with their partners, Bettina Anderson and Lara Trump.
As Trump continues his Scottish visit, his comments about the Royal Family have reignited discussions about the Sussexes’ relationship with both the monarchy and American political figures, highlighting the ongoing tensions that persist years after their departure from royal life.
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