Donald Trump has declared that Prince Harry will be “on his own” if he wins a second term as president this year, as the royal family faces a row over his US visa.
The statement, made Saturday at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, D.C., is in response to an ongoing legal challenge related to the 39-year-old Duke's visa application.
The Republican front-runner further criticized Harry and his American bride Meghan Markle for calling Queen Elizabeth II an “unforgivable” betrayal.
Four years ago, the pair announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to California, where Harry is now considering becoming a permanent citizen.
Additionally, Trump's comments come at a time when the prince's immigration status has been called into question – as a conservative think tank argues in his memoir “Spare” that he could not have entered the country legally because he admitted at the time to using illegal drugs to have.
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Donald Trump declared on Saturday that Prince Harry will be “on his own” if he wins a second term, calling the duke's move to the United States in 2020 an “unforgivable” betrayal of Queen Elizabeth II
Four years ago, the couple famously announced that they would end their royal duties and move to California, where Harry – seen here with his wife Meghan Markle, who is a US citizen – is now considering obtaining permanent citizenship as well
Trump, in turn, criticized Joe Biden's government for being “too merciful” to the Duke of Sussex – and recalled the lack of legal scrutiny he has faced since his high-profile move across the pond with US citizen Meghan in 2020 was.
“I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the queen. “This is unforgivable,” Trump, 77, told the Daily Express after addressing viewers in Maryland shortly after the South Carolina primary.
“He would be on his own if I had my way.”
However, seconds earlier in his speech, he made no mention of his Republican rival Nikki Haley, whom he had just defeated soundly in the state she once governed.
Instead, he spent an hour and a half trying to paint a bleak picture of the US under Biden's leadership, describing himself as a “political dissident” and the country's last hope.
Among other things, he addressed Biden's more lax approach to the Sussexes, which he described as “too merciful”. [Harry] after what he did.'
He called Nov. 5 – Election Day – “our new day of liberation” as Harry's immigration status became the latest talking point in an election that is expected to be contentious.
“For hardworking Americans, November 5th will be our new Liberation Day,” he said, hours after inflicting a more than 20-point defeat on his only remaining opponent for the GOP nomination.
Additionally, Trump's comments come at a time when the prince's immigration status has been questioned – a conservative think tank argues in his memoir “Spare” that he could not have entered the country legally because he admitted at the time to illegal drugs to have consumed
In it, the Republican front-runner further criticized Harry and his American bride, having previously described his memoirs as “horrible” and commented that he was “surprised” that the couple were still invited to King Charles' coronation last year after their sensational exodus became
“I wouldn't protect him. He betrayed the queen. “This is unforgivable,” Trump, 77, told the Daily Express after addressing viewers in Maryland shortly after the South Carolina primary. “He would be on his own if it were up to me.”
“But for the liars, fraudsters, fraudsters, censors and fraudsters who have taken over our government, it will be their judgment day.”
“If we win, the curtain will fall on their corrupt rule and the sun will rise on a bright new future for America.”
“I think it’s our last chance.”
He also described the state of the country as a “Biden nightmare” and called his opponents “thugs,” “tyrants” and “fascists.”
In the event of a loss, “hordes” of migrants would flood into the U.S., and programs like Medicare and Social Security would “collapse” in the resulting confusion.
He also claimed that law enforcement would continue to “hunt” for conservatives as he faces multiple lawsuits over fraud and other illegal activities that he said were the work of his Democratic rival.
“If corrupt Joe Biden and his thugs win in 2024, the worst is yet to come,” he said, a day after representatives of the Republican-run Heritage Foundation argued in court that Prince Harry’s entry into the country would never be allowed should have been sanctioned.
“Our country will sink and sink to unimaginable levels,” Trump continued, before telling the British newspaper his stance on the issue.
During his speech seconds earlier, he made no mention of his Republican rival, Nikki Haley, whom he had just soundly defeated in the primary for the state she once governed
His opposition to Prince Harry – and his support for the late queen – was no surprise considering the current government recently decided to block publication of the Duke's visa application after his admission of drug use in his best-selling book prompted the court challenge had triggered.
The federal lawsuit demands that the U.S. government disclose the immigration form to see whether he said he submitted the drugs to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – actions he confessed to in his best-selling book.
In it, the Duke – who remains a prince and fifth in line to the throne – wrote that he used cocaine, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in his youth.
He added that while cocaine “didn't do anything for me,” marijuana “really helped me” during difficult periods in his life as a “deeply unhappy” 17-year-old.
He also revealed that while taking psychedelic mushrooms, he had a hallucination that a trash can in the bathroom had grown a head and he was staring at it.
On Friday, a lawyer for the Biden administration refuted the think tank's claims, arguing that the prince's admission of taking the drugs listed in his book was not sufficient “evidence” that the incidents in question actually occurred.
The government also claimed that this account could have been used solely to “sell books” – a maneuver that, if true, ultimately proved successful: in its first week alone, Spare sold 467,183 copies in the United States and in the rest of the US 2.7 million the globe.
“Saying something in a book doesn’t necessarily make it true,” federal government lawyers reportedly said behind closed doors.
The federal lawsuit demands that the U.S. government disclose the immigration form to see whether he declared that he brought the drugs to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), actions he details in his best-selling book (here to see) has commented.
Trump has previously expressed his strong support for the late queen, reiterating after her death in 2022: “What a great and beautiful lady she was. 'There was no one like her!' He stuck to his guns after a 90-minute victory speech in Maryland on Saturday (pictured)
The Heritage Foundation, meanwhile, will continue to argue next week that Biden and his cronies are covering up the records, which they say are of “immense public interest” to the people of the United States.
The company, which was founded in the 1970s before rising to prominence during the conservative movement during Ronald Reagan's presidency, also claims the government is trying to “protect” Prince Harry and his 42-year-old wife.
Trump has previously expressed his strong support for the late queen, reiterating after her death in 2022: “What a great and beautiful lady she was. 'There was no one like her!'
In contrast, he was somewhat critical of the high-flying Duke and Duchess, describing his memoirs as “horrible” and commenting that he was “surprised” that the couple still attended King Charles' coronation last year after their sensational exodus was invited.
Apparently unfazed, Prince Harry told ABC's “Good Morning America” earlier this month when asked if he could apply for U.S. citizenship.
“The thought has crossed my mind, but it’s not a high priority at the moment,” he said.
Of his relatives still living abroad, he added: “I love my family, the fact that I could get on a plane and see him and spend time with him at any time – I'm grateful for that.”
The legal proceedings against the Heritage Foundation are currently ongoing.
Meanwhile, Trump's victory in South Carolina – his fourth straight victory – raises questions about the state of Haley's campaign.
As the only conservative candidate left to run against the former president, she vowed to stay in the race even if she lost in South Carolina. As of Saturday evening, she had not announced anything further.