Donald Trump has stated that Prince Harry no longer 'speaks for the UK' after the royal called for 'American leadership' during a surprise visit to the Kyiv Security Forum. Trump, speaking at a White House briefing, responded to reporters' questions about Harry's remarks by saying, 'Prince Harry? How's he doing? How's his wife? Please give her my regards. I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that's for sure. I think I am speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry. But I appreciate his advice very much.'
Harry's Call for American Leadership
During his address at the Kyiv Security Forum, the Duke of Sussex urged Washington to uphold its international obligations regarding Russia's war against Ukraine. He stated, 'This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can honour its international treaty obligations, not out of charity but out of its own enduring role in global security and strategic stability. Europe has stood up in profound ways. And that support has mattered, and Ukraine knows it. The task now is to match endurance with speed.'
Harry also highlighted that Russia has abducted approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children during the conflict, according to Kyiv officials and monitoring groups. Some of these children have been forcibly fostered and adopted, actions which Harry described as amounting to a 'genocide'.
Trump's Relationship with the Royals
While Trump has long expressed admiration for the British royal family, he has shown little interest in Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. The couple moved to Montecito, California, after stepping back from official duties in 2020 amid a growing rift with the royal family. When asked whether he would invite Harry to dinner during the upcoming state visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla, Trump did not directly answer but said, 'He's a friend of mine. We're really looking forward to it. We've spoken and we're going to have a great time.'
King Charles is the first British monarch to visit the US since Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. He and Queen Camilla are scheduled to meet Trump at the White House during their four-day visit next Monday. They will dine with the president and First Lady Melania Trump before addressing a joint meeting of Congress. Trump has expressed that the trip could 'absolutely' help heal relations between the US and the UK, which have become strained amid the president's controversial war against Iran.
