Trump blasts Prince Harry over Ukraine & NATO interference
Donald Trump has launched a blistering attack on Prince Harry after the royal urged the US to honour its obligations to Ukraine and Nato in the war with Russia. The President sarcastically dismissed the Duke of Sussex's 'great advice' and said that he believes he speaks more for the UK than King Charles III's youngest son.Mr Trump, who has repeatedly branded Harry's wife 'terrible', also hit out at Meghan Markle as he spoke in the White House last night. But he did say he was looking forward to spending time with his 'friend' King Charles when he arrives for his state visit with Queen Camilla next week. Harry had arrived in Ukraine secretly on Thursday and while he did not mention Mr Trump by name, he told the Kyiv Security Forum that there is a need for 'American leadership' in the war with Russia. Sarcasm and Snubs And amid Mr Trump's repeated threats to pull out of Nato over the Iran war, Harry said America needed to 'honour its international treaty obligations' - a clear nod to the military alliance - in its 'enduring role in global security'. Responding to the speech, the President told reporters: '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. It's great advice,' he added sarcastically.Mr Trump, who said after Megxit that Harry needs a 'lot of luck' due to his marriage to Meghan, went on to ask yesterday: 'How's he doing? How's his wife? Please give her my regards.'His comments came as King Charles and Queen Camilla are due to travel to the US on Monday for a four-day visit, during which they will meet Mr Trump. The President has said the state visit could 'absolutely' mend relations with the UK, damaged over the Iran war.Mr Trump said: 'I look forward to the dinner, we're having King Charles come.''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. I tell you, if I had that ballroom built it would be full, I wish we had more seats.' Advice for Aberdeen 'They've wanted a new ballroom for 150 years, now they're getting the best in the world. We're going to have the best in the world. But we have a room that's not big enough to handle what would be a big crowd. 'We're going to have very great people that love the UK. I love the UK. I think they made a big mistake on energy. You should open up the North Sea in Aberdeen, you should open it up. And the other thing is they made a big mistake on immigration.'Earlier Harry, 41, delivered a lengthy, impassioned speech at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday, saying he was 'not here as a politician' but as 'a soldier who understands service' and a 'humanitarian'.Turning to America, Harry said: '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.'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.'Harry also urged Vladimir Putin to 'stop this war' with Ukraine and accused the Russians of carrying out 'mass killings and [punishment]'. A Plea for Peace 'There is still a moment—now—to stop this war, to prevent further suffering for Ukrainians and Russians alike, and to choose a different course', Harry said.He went on: 'President Putin, no nation benefits from the continued loss of life we are witnessing'.Harry then accused the Russians of relentless 'attacks on civilians, mass killings, [punishment], sexual violence, and the forced deportation of entire populations' including many tens of thousands of children.He said these young people are being brainwashed by a system 'designed to erase who they are'.Harry's unannounced visit – his third trip to Ukraine since the war began in 2022 – comes days after he finished a tour to Australia with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex.He stopped in the UK on his journey to Ukraine, but only to transit through.Harry arrived in Kyiv by train after Russian drones struck a railway yard in the country's Zaporizhzhia region, where a train driver was killed, according to Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba.The Duke was greeted by Ramina Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the executive director of the Open Ukraine Foundation, who organised the Kyiv Security Forum. Amidst the Rubble After stepping off his overnight train, he told reporters: 'It's good to be back in Ukraine,' adding he wanted to remind people around the world what Ukraine is up against, and to support those doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.Harry was in Kyiv just a week after Russia launched its deadliest aerial assault on the capital so far this year. Moscow bombarded the country with a wave of drone and missile strike, killing 17 people and injuring more than 100. Four died in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old boy.Harry has not shied away from criticising Donald Trump - and even cracking jokes at Donald Trump's expense - most recently about his ICE immigration agents.In December the Duke of Sussex lampooned Mr Trump twice in 48 hours - most recently in a new gag about the 2026 World Cup on the day the President attended the draw. Harry was the surprise guest speaker at the British American Business Council (BABC). Speaking at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, Harry warned fans they need to 'behave, get through customs and past ICE' to attend, sparking hoots of laughter from those who attended a 65th Anniversary Christmas Luncheon.Days earlier Harry popped up on Stephen Colbert's Late Show where he mocked Mr Trump by claiming America had 'elected a King' - a nod to the 'No Kings' left-wing protests in October in opposition to Trump and his administration. A Veiled Swipe The gag sparked boos from the TV audience before he launched into another gag where he criticised CBS for settling a 'baseless' lawsuit with the President.Donald Trump ignored the barbs but had recently 'ruled out' deporting Prince Harry from the US himself over claims of 'past drug taking' made in his memoir and whether he declared it on his visa forms.President Trump said he has no interest in 'throwing out' the Duke of Sussex, adding: 'I’ll leave him alone. He's got enough problems with his wife. She's terrible'.Last September Donald Trump appeared to take a veiled double swipe at Prince Harry during his state banquet speech as he lavished praise on Prince William and King Charles III.The US President spoke highly of the Prince of Wales, describing him as the King's 'remarkable son' and 'really amazing' - with no mention of his brother Harry.Mr Trump said: 'I just want to say that His Majesty has also raised a remarkable son in 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.'Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy, so beautiful.'Mr Trump also claimed the King had helped wounded veterans 'like nobody else' during the glittering dinner at Windsor Castle for his second historic state visit.This is despite former Army captain Harry having had huge success and impact by founding the Invictus Games - a sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans, which takes place every two years - in 2014. From Sydney to the Frontline Harry arrived in Kyiv by train yesterday having spent last week in Australia with Meghan on their controversial pseudo-royal tour.He also quietly sent a wreath to his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's Windsor grave to mark what would have been her 100th birthday on Tuesday - but did not join his family's celebrations at Buckingham Palace in London.He secretly arrived in Kyiv by train early on Thursday morning, suggesting he flew to Poland and then travelled by rail to the Ukrainian capital overnight.He told ITV News that his visit is 'to remind people back home and around the world what Ukraine is up against and to support the people and partners doing extraordinary work every hour of every day in incredibly tough conditions.'He branded Ukraine 'a country bravely and successfully defending Europe's eastern flank' and said 'it matters that we don't lose sight of the significance of that.''This is a war about values, not just territory', Harry said in his speech. It is his second visit to the city, having spent time there last September as part of his continued work for the Invictus Games and to support Ukraine's tens of thousands of injured veterans. Harry, who served 10 years in the British Army, has long made helping injured soldiers one of his most prominent causes.In April last year, Harry met with war victims in his first trip to Ukraine, this time time to Lviv. The Return of the Monarch Photos showed the royal with a smile ear-to-ear, posing with dozens of wounded soldiers.There has been major tensions over the upcoming state visit to the US by the King and Queen.Donald Trump has been highly critical of Sir Keir Starmer for failing to support his Iran War, declaring he's no Winston Churchill.But Mr Trump told Sky News last week that the state visit will not be overshadowed by his strained relationship with Sir Keir.The royal couple will begin their trip with a private tea hosted by the President and First Lady, and will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New York's Twin Towers.Highlights of the trip will also include Charles acknowledging the challenges the UK and US face in only the second address to both houses of Congress by a British monarch, after Queen Elizabeth II delivered the first in September 1991.Charles and Mr Trump will sit down for a bilateral meeting and Camilla and Melania Trump will carry out an engagement together, with the President hosting a state dinner in their honour.The royal couple will also travel to Virginia to meet residents and community organisations and watch performances by Appalachian cultural groups and attend a celebratory 'block party'. The Pope Leo Conflict Royal author Tina Brown claimed ahead of the four-day US state visit King Charles III 'viscerally despises' Donald Trump privately.The former Vanity Fair editor claimed a royal adviser had also told her that the monarch was 'especially pained' by the President's attacks on Pope Leo XIV.Charles and Camilla's trip comes amid a worsening UK-US relationship after verbal attacks by Mr Trump on the British military, its Nato allies and Sir Keir Starmer.The King's first visit to the US as monarch is intended to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US.And Ms Brown wrote on her 'Fresh Hell' Substack: 'There will be no whiff next week of how "viscerally", I am told, King Charles privately despises his presidential host.'Ahead of the trip from April 27 to 30, Ms Brown added: 'The King, a royal adviser told me, will be especially pained by Trump's attacks on Pope Leo.'In his decades as Prince of Wales, interfaith understanding was always high on his priority list, to the point that he wanted, as monarch, to be called defender of faith, not the faith.'Share your thoughts with us in the comments
