Trump Voices Sympathy for Royal Family Amid Andrew Mountbatten Arrest
Former US President Donald Trump has publicly reacted to the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, describing the situation as "very sad" for the British royal family. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One while traveling to Georgia on Thursday, February 20, 2026, Trump expressed his dismay at the developments surrounding the former prince.
Trump's Comments on the Royal Scandal
"I think it's a shame. I think it's very sad. I think it's so bad for the royal family," Trump stated during his remarks. "It's very, very sad. To me, it's a very sad thing." The former president went on to praise King Charles III as a "fantastic man" who is scheduled to visit the United States soon.
Trump positioned himself as uniquely qualified to comment on the matter, claiming: "I'm the expert in a way because I've been totally exonerated. That's very nice. I can actually speak about it very nicely." He repeated his assessment of the situation as "a very sad thing" multiple times during his comments to the press corps.
Political Fallout and Calls for Accountability
The arrest has sparked renewed calls from US politicians for Trump to face scrutiny over his own connections with Jeffrey Epstein. Democrat Representative Melanie Stansbury declared: "If a Prince can be held accountable, so can a President." This sentiment reflects growing political pressure surrounding Epstein-related investigations.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was taken into custody on Thursday morning on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest follows years of allegations concerning his association with Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019. Additional allegations suggest the former prince disclosed confidential trade information to the disgraced financier.
Congressional Investigations Intensify
Democrat Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, a member of the House Oversight Committee, issued a statement emphasizing that "there will be accountability even if you hide, regardless of how rich and powerful you are." Subramanyam and fellow Democrat Robert Garcia had previously accused Andrew of evading scrutiny after he failed to respond to congressional inquiries about the Epstein scandal.
"He appears repeatedly in the documents we have uncovered as having knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes and is specifically named by victims as someone who engaged in wrongdoing," Subramanyam stated. "Yet he has continued to ignore our calls to cooperate with the Oversight Committee's investigation."
Wexner Testifies Before Congress
The arrest coincides with congressional testimony from Les Wexner, a retail tycoon and former Epstein associate. The 88-year-old retired founder of L Brands told lawmakers he had been "duped by a world-class conman" and defended his awareness of Epstein's sex crimes. "I was naive, foolish, and gullible to put any trust in Jeffrey Epstein," Wexner stated in his submission to the House Oversight Committee.
Wexner's name appears over 1,000 times in Epstein-related documents, though his representatives note this frequency reflects their lengthy association rather than implying guilt. The businessman testified for six hours, with Republican Representative James Comer confirming that Wexner "answered every question asked of him."
Continued Denials and Ongoing Investigations
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently denied any misconduct related to his Epstein connections but has not directly addressed the most recent allegations. The former prince, who had his titles and honors revoked by his brother in October, faces mounting legal and political pressure as investigations continue on both sides of the Atlantic.
Representative Robert Garcia, who attended Wexner's testimony, expressed skepticism about the businessman's claims, telling journalists: "There is no single person that was more involved in providing Jeffrey Epstein with the financial support to commit his crimes than Les Wexner."
As the legal proceedings unfold, the intersection of royal scandal, political accountability, and the ongoing Epstein investigation continues to generate international attention and debate about justice for the powerful.
