A history and explanation of President Trump and Prince Harry’s very public feud

Donald Trump had a deep respect for the late Queen, is friends with King Charles, and has praised both the Prince and Princess of Wales, but the same level of admiration can’t be said for Prince Harry. Over the years, the American President and British Prince have traded public jabs, including in the run-up to Charles and Queen Camilla’s historic state visit to the United States in 2026. 

Days before, the Duke of Sussex made a surprise trip to Ukraine, where he spoke at the Kyiv Security Forum, calling on the United States to honor its “international treaty obligations.” Harry said: “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 enduring role in global security and strategic stability.”

At the White House, President Trump addressed the Prince’s comments, saying: “I know one thing, Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK, that’s for sure. I think I’m speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry,” adding, “But I appreciate his advice very much.”

In his response, the President also quipped: “How’s he doing? How’s his wife? Please give her my regards.”

‘Not a fan’ of Harry’s wife

While the President of the United States is a “big fan” of Harry’s father, that sentiment does not extend to the Duke’s wife, Meghan Markle. Before joining the royal family, the Suits star called Trump “misogynistic” and “divisive” during a 2016 appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. When The Sun later informed the President of Meghan’s remarks in 2019, Trump said: “I didn’t know that. What can I say? I didn’t know that she was nasty” – he later posted on X: “I never called Meghan Markle ‘nasty.'”

Though he did say at the time that it was “nice” the American actress had joined the British royal family, and was rooting for her. “She will be very good. I hope she does (succeed),” President Trump said. 

However, he has since changed his tone. In 2020, the President shared that he was “not a fan of” the Duchess, adding, “I would say this, and she probably has heard that, but I wish a lot of luck to Harry, because he’s gonna need it.”

He again expressed his dislike for the Duchess in 2022, telling Piers Morgan that Prince Harry “is whipped like no person I think I’ve ever seen.” The President said: “I’m not a fan of Meghan, I’m not a fan, and I wasn’t right from the beginning. I think poor Harry is being led around by his nose. And I think he’s an embarrassment.”

During the interview, the President predicted that “it’ll end bad” for the Duke and Duchess. “I wonder if Harry’s going to go back on his hands and knees back into the beautiful city of London and say please. You know, I think Harry has been led down a path,” he said.

If he were the reigning monarch, President Trump told Piers he’d remove the California-based Duke and Duchess’ titles. He said: “The only thing I disagree with the [late] Queen on, probably one of the only things ever, is that I think she should have said, ‘If that’s your choice fine, but you no longer have titles and frankly don’t come around.'”

The President added that Harry “has been so disrespectful to the country.”

A late night swipe

Prince Harry took a swipe at Trump while making an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in December 2025. In a skit, the Duke wandered onto the stage looking to audition for The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska holiday movie. “You’re an actual Prince. Why would you want to be in one of those movies?” the host asked, to which Harry responded: “Well, you Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies and you’re clearly obsessed with royalty, so why not?”  

Stephen pushed back, noting: “I wouldn’t say we’re obsessed with royalty.” 

“Really?” Harry replied. “I heard you elected a king.” The Prince’s joke was met with boos from members of the audience.

Continuing the bit, Harry told Stephen that to land the role in the (fake) movie, “I’ll record a self-tape, I’ll fly myself to an audition, settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House. All the things you people in TV do.”

A response to Trump

Harry fired back at the President in January 2026, after Trump made a remark about NATO allies. The President claimed: “They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”

Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, issued a statement in response to the President’s comments. “In 2001, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first – and only – time in history. It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security. Allies answered that call. I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there,” the Duke said.

“The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed. Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.”

Harry concluded: “Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”

Trump later walked back his comment, writing on Truth Social: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the U.S.A.!). We love you all, and always will!”

Harry’s father and stepmother traveled to the United States in April for a historic state visit to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. According to the Daily Mail‘s Richard Eden, President Trump spoke with a British visitor about the Duke of Sussex, asking:  “Can you take him back?”

The President’s second son, Eric Trump, has made similar remarks in the past. Speaking to GB News in 2024, the first son said: “You can happily have those two [Meghan and Harry], we might not want them anymore, it feels like they’re on an island of their own.”

Meghan and Harry have been living across the pond since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. The year before relocating to California, Harry made an appearance during President Trump’s first state visit to the UK, but did not attend the state banquet held at Buckingham Palace. When the Trumps returned to the UK in 2025 for their second state visit, the President noticeably omitted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from his speech. 

“I just want to say that His Majesty has also raised a remarkable son, His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, really amazing. We’ve gotten to know you and I think you’re going to have an unbelievable success in future,” he said. “Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy and so beautiful. It’s really a great honour.”

More praises were sung during Charles’ trip to D.C., with the President hailing both the King and Queen as “incredible people.” While Charles is the “greatest King” in President Trump’s book, it’s clear that the royal’s younger son, Prince Harry, is written very differently in that same book.bri