Donald Trump Fires Back at Prince Harry’s Ukraine Speech — and Drags Meghan Markle Into It
Prince Harry’s Ukraine speech sparks a reaction from Trump that quickly turns personal and pulls Meghan Markle into the conversation
Prince Harry’s recent unannounced visit to Ukraine has stirred tension with Donald Trump, as the former took a subtle dig at the latter during a speech. Harry showed up at Kyiv on April 23 for a surprise appearance at the Kyiv Security Forum. Speaking to a global audience, he delivered a pointed message about the role the United States should be playing right now.
While addressing the crowd, the Duke of Sussex urged “American leadership to step up” and said (via PEOPLE), “The United States has a singular role in this story. Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.”
When Trump was questioned inside the Oval Office regarding Harry’s statements later that day, he did not jump straight into the topic. Instead, he sidestepped it with a quick remark that brought up Meghan Markle. He said, “Prince Harry? How's he doing? How's his wife? Please give her my regards.” He then turned more direct, making it clear he does not see Harry as someone who speaks for Britain. “I know one thing: Prince Harry is not speaking for the U.K. That's for sure. I think I'm speaking for the U.K. more than Prince Harry. But I appreciate his advice,” he added.
During his speech, Harry also referenced the agreement made when Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons. He said, “Not only because of its power, but because when Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons, America was part of the assurance that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected.” He framed the situation as a defining test for the U.S. to step up, not out of goodwill, but because of its lasting role in global security and stability.
However, this unexpected clash could not come at a worse time as King Charles prepares for his U.S. trip for the first time as monarch. Along with Queen Camilla, they are set to attend several events, as per the details revealed by Buckingham Palace. It is set to run from April 27 to 30, with a key stop at Washington, D.C., where they will be welcomed by the President and Melania Trump for a private tea. In a rare moment, Charles is also set to address Congress, last done by Queen Elizabeth II.
Trump was asked if the upcoming Charles visit could help ease tensions between the longtime allies. He told the BBC, “Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely, the answer is yes." He continued, "I know him well, I've known him for years. He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.” His comments stood out, especially since he has been clashing with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in recent months over things like immigration and the Iran conflict.
