Donald Trump has been accused of taking a swipe at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during his extraordinary press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland.
The US President spoke about his love for the British Royal Family, especially King Charles III, before making a seemingly pointed follow-up remark about ‘not great people’ outside the UK.
The Prime Minister looked awkward as Trump spoke but initially stayed silent, unlike when the President called Sir Sadiq Khan ‘nasty’ and Sir Keir interrupted him to say the London Mayor was his ‘friend’.
While Trump did not mention Meghan and Harry by name, royal fans believe he was ‘throwing shade’ on the Sussexes.
He said: ‘Being with Charles, Camilla and everybody, I’ve got to know because of four years [as President] and now six months. I’ve got to know a lot of the family members. They are great people. They are really great people’.
And in words some on social media believe are linked to the Meghan and Harry and their decision to emigrate, he said: ‘And in that sense I think the UK is very lucky, you could have people that weren’t great people. I don’t know if I can say that, but you could have people that weren’t’.
There is no love lost between Donald Trump and Prince Harry and his American wife.
Donald Trump took aim at Harry and Meghan in a chaotic press conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland yesterday
Donald Trump called royals including the King, ‘great people’, before speaking of people who ‘weren’t’
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, have links to the Biden family and there appears to be no love lost between them and Mr Trump
One social media user said of Trump’s words yesterday: ‘I love the shade President Trump throws at Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’.
Another wrote they were sure that Trump was ‘calling them out’.
In February Prince Harry took an apparent swipe at him after the President called his wife ‘terrible’.
The Duke of Sussex used his speech to 40,000 attendants at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Canada to bemoan ‘weak moral character in the world’ – before thanking veterans – in comments widely viewed as a dig at the US President.
It came after Mr Trump batted away calls for Harry’s deportation amid controversy over his visa and his historical drug use.
‘I don’t want to do that. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible,’ the President said.
Harry and Meghan have also donated more than half a million dollars to Democrat-linked gurus, funds and charities despite royals having to be politically neutral.
Their Archewell foundation handed £502,300 ($632,000) to individuals and groups that would likely frustrate Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised the couple and recently called Meghan ‘terrible’.
The largest single payment went to a charity run by Joe Biden‘s daughter Ashley, Archewell’s tax documents in the US showed.
Harry admitted in his 2023 memoir Spare that he had taken drugs in the past, prompting the Right-wing Heritage Foundation to suggest he lied about using them on his visa application or was given special treatment by Joe Biden.
Mr Trump has also said he is ‘not a fan’ of Meghan, claiming that ‘Harry is whipped’ and ‘is being led around by his nose’.
Back in September 2020, soon after Harry and his wife Meghan Markle had moved to the US, the couple urged American voters to ‘reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity’ in that year’s election which was eventually won by Joe Biden .
While the Sussexes did not endorse a candidate, the wording of their video message prompted accusations that they were referring to Mr Trump and had therefore breached UK protocol keeping members of the Royal Family political neutrality.
Last year the Sussexes had again urged people to vote in the US Presidential Election.
They did not endorse a candidate but their intervention was taken as a nod to Kamala by critics.
Some suggested that the decision not to come out expressly for Kamala may have been related to the row over Harry’s visa application.
The US President called Meghan ‘terrible’ in comments where he dismissed calls for Harry’s deportation amid controversy over his visa because ‘he’s got enough problems with his wife’
The couple’s video statement from the 2020 election which they filmed from the garden of their Montecito mansion and urged Americans to vote in the ‘most important election of our lifetime’. They denied they were not politically neutral, others disagreed
Trump’s comments yesterday came as he told Sir Keir Starmer to cut taxes and stop the boats if he wants to defeat Nigel Farage.
The US President offered Sir Keir his ‘simple’ formula for defeating the Reform leader – now riding high in the polls – at an extraordinary joint press conference in Scotland.
But he warned it would mean cutting taxes, which Labour has raised to the highest level in modern history. And he said Labour would have to cut Britain’s ‘ruinous’ immigration, including ending the Channel crisis to prevent thousands of ‘bad people’ entering the country illegally.
The unsolicited advice came during a chaotic event in front of the TV cameras at Mr Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, at which Sir Keir was repeatedly left squirming.
President Trump criticised his focus on wind energy as ‘disastrous’ – and described Labour’s London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan as a ‘nasty person’.
Mr Trump told Sir Keir that ‘politics is pretty simple’ as he offered him advice on how to emerge on top in ‘the thing going on between you and Nigel [Farage]’. He added: ‘Generally speaking, the one who cuts taxes the most, the one who gives you the lowest energy prices, the best kind of energy, the one that keeps you out of wars… a few basics… And in your case a big immigration component.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex , who insisted that they would remain politically neutral in public ahead of the State’s presidential election in November, are connected with the First Daughter Ashley (pictured with President Biden in 2017), 43, through a non-partisan initiative
Mr Trump, a long-time friend of Mr Farage, said he liked both men, adding: ‘I think the one that’s toughest and most competent on immigration is going to win the election, but then you add… low taxes, and you add the economy.
‘[Sir Keir] did a great thing with the economy, because a lot of money is going to come in because of the [US trade] deal that was made. But I think that immigration is now bigger than ever before.’ Almost 20,000 people crossed the Channel illegally in the first six months of this year – a rise of 50 per cent on the same period in 2024.
Mr Trump, who put border control at the heart of his winning election campaign last year, warned that the level of migration to the UK was ‘ruinous’. He warned that the small boats crossing the Channel were usually ‘loaded up with bad people… because other countries don’t send their best, they send people that they don’t want. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it, you cannot let people come here illegally’.
Yesterday’s talks came during a ‘private’ four-day trip to Scotland during which Mr Trump has held meetings with a number of leading political figures while visiting his two golf courses in the country. In a highly unusual encounter, Mr Trump effectively acted as host to Sir Keir in his own country, with the PM forced to make a 400-mile pilgrimage to Scotland to build on an unlikely ‘bromance’.
An hour-long press conference was humiliating at times for the PM. During one excruciating exchange, Mr Trump said Sir Sadiq was a ‘nasty person’ who had done a ‘terrible job’.
Sir Keir also had to endure a public lecture on the importance of cutting taxes, which Mr Trump said was key to UK growth – and Labour’s electoral fortunes. Referring to Sir Keir, who raised taxes by a record £40billion last year and is expected to raise them again in the autumn, he added: ‘The Prime Minister hasn’t been here very long. I think he will be a tax cutter.’ Government sources last night insisted that the trip had proved worthwhile as Sir Keir tries to galvanise international action behind a plan to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza. A source said President Trump was ‘very forward leaning on getting aid in’. No 10 was also cheered by Mr Trump’s warm language towards Sir Keir.
Later Sir Keir flew with Mr Trump in Air Force One from Glasgow airport to a private dinner in Aberdeen. They were due to land at RAF Lossiemouth, because Aberdeen airport’s runway is too short for the 747.
All the flashpoints of Trump’s meeting with Starmer: From awkwardly slating the PM’s ‘pal’ Sadiq Khan, and blasting UK’s ‘ugly’ wind farms to claiming he ‘never had the privilege’ of visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous island
Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer‘s sitdown in front of the world’s media came in the ballroom of the President’s Turnberry golf course – arranged to resemble the White House‘s Oval Office.
Mr Trump, unsurprisingly, did most of the talking as he freewheeled from subject to subject. Here we take a look at what he said.
Sadiq Khan
Mr Trump did not hold back in his criticism of Labour’s mayor of London.
When asked if he would head to the capital during his planned state visit in September, he said: ‘I’m not a fan of your mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job, the Mayor of London… a nasty person.’
Sir Keir intervened to say: ‘He’s a friend of mine, actually.’ But an undeterred Mr Trump went on to say: ‘I think he’s done a terrible job. But I would certainly visit London.’
Donald Trump, unsurprisingly, did most of the talking as he freewheeled from subject to subject in his meeting with Sir Keir Starmer
He did not hold back in his criticism of Labour’s mayor of London Sadiq Khan, pictured this month
Wind turbines
He has long been outspoken about his dislike of wind power and strongly opposed an offshore development which is visible from his Aberdeenshire golf course.
He said: ‘Wind is the most expensive form of energy and it destroys the beauty of your fields, your plains and your waterways. Wind needs massive subsidy, and you are paying in Scotland and in the UK, and all over the place, massive subsidies to have these ugly monsters all over the place.’
He urged the UK to exploit North Sea oil and gas.
Wind turbines pictured below Marine One, carrying U.S. President Donald Trump, towards Trump International Golf in Aberdeen on Monday. He branded wind turbines ‘ugly monsters’
The Royals
The President heaped praise on the Royal Family as ‘really great people’.
Mr Trump, who is known to admire the monarchy, said the UK is ‘very lucky’ to have the royals, before adding: ‘You could have people that weren’t great people.’
Despite Mr Trump’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ slogan aimed at ramping up fossil fuel extraction, he applauded the King’s environmentalism.
‘King Charles is an environmentalist, I will tell you. I say that in a positive way, not a negative way. Every time I’ve met with him he talked about the environment and how important it is and I’m all for it – I think that’s great.’
Despite Mr Trump’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ slogan aimed at ramping up fossil fuel extraction, he applauded the King’s environmentalism
Starmer’s wife
Before the ballroom engagement, Sir Keir and Mr Trump embraced on the Turnberry steps as the Prime Minister arrived with his wife, Lady Starmer.
In slightly farcical scenes, an off-the-cuff to-and-fro with the gathered media was partly drowned out by the bagpiper.
But the President did make himself heard when he said he wanted to make the PM ‘happy’, and then, referring to Lady Starmer, said: ‘She’s a respected person all over the United States. I don’t know what he’s (Sir Keir) doing but she’s very respected, as respected as him.
‘I don’t want to say more, I’ll get myself in trouble. But she’s very, she’s a great woman and is very highly respected.’
Before the ballroom engagement, Sir Keir and Mr Trump embraced on the Turnberry steps as the Prime Minister arrived with his wife, Lady Starmer, pictured right
Farms
The President appeared to criticise Labour’s inheritance tax on farmers.
While he did not directly mention Sir Keir’s reforms to agricultural property relief, he said farmers in the US had been driven to suicide by taxes and noted that he had acted to remove levies on farmland estates, adding: ‘I love our farmers.’
‘They don’t make a lot of money but it’s a way of life and they love that dirt,’ he said. Defending the policy, Sir Keir said he was trying to increase farmers’ income.
Tractors pictured on Whitehall in protest against inheritance tax policies. The President appeared to criticise Labour’s inheritance tax on farmers on Monday
Epstein and Maxwell
Donald Trump said he’d ‘never had the privilege’ of going to Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous island, where sordid underage sex parties took place, attended by the rich and powerful.
Epstein, he said, was ‘always a very controversial guy’ but he hit back at claims he had sent a suggestive birthday note to the paedophile financier, featuring the outline of a naked woman.
‘I never went to the island [Little St James in the US Virgin Islands],’ Mr Trump said. ‘And Bill Clinton went there, supposedly, 28 times. I never went to the island… I never had the privilege. I did turn it down.’
Mr Clinton has said he ‘knows nothing’ about Epstein’s crimes, while his aides have denied he ever went to Little St James.
Asked about the clamour to release the Epstein files in the possession of the FBI and in which he is said to be named, the President said: ‘It’s a hoax that’s been built up way beyond proportion.’
Of the reported birthday note, he said: ‘I’m not a drawing person. I don’t do drawings of women, that I can tell you.’
Mr Trump also said he had not been asked to pardon Epstein madam Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite currently serving 20 years in a US prison over child sex trafficking offences.
Mr Trump said he’d ‘never had the privilege’ of going to Jeffrey Epstein’s infamous island, where sordid underage sex parties took place (pictured L-R in 2000: Mr Trump, Melania Trump, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell)
Trade with the UK
Mr Trump suggested that the UK will know ‘pretty soon’ what tariffs will be placed on steel.
He said the US wants to ‘make our own steel’ but did not say whether levies on UK exports will remain at the current 25 per cent, be cut or even increased.
He also hinted that he may not impose heavy tariffs on British pharmaceuticals because he said he could do a deal with the UK. He said he felt a ‘lot better’ working with Britain than other countries.
He added: ‘With the relationship we have, you would not use that as a cudgel. You wouldn’t be using it as a block.’
The President pictured at a steel plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in May. He suggested that the UK will know ‘pretty soon’ what tariffs will be placed on steel
Free speech
Sir Keir defended the Online Safety Act following questions about whether it censored online content. The Prime Minister said that the laws were there to protect children rather than curbing freedom of speech.
Last week, the law changed to require websites to check users are over 18 before allowing them to access ‘harmful’ material such as pornography or suicide material, with heavy fines for those that do not comply.
Told that Sir Keir now has the power to censor the President’s Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: ‘If you censor me, you’re making a mistake.’
Sir Keir replied: ‘We’re not censoring anyone. We’ve got some measures which are there to protect children, in particular, from sites like suicide sites.’ He added: ‘I don’t see that as a free speech issue – I see that as child protection.’
Sir Keir defended the Online Safety Act following questions about whether it censored online content
Love of Scotland
Mr Trump spoke of his ‘great love’ for Scotland, as he vowed to return to the country ‘once a year’ for a visit. Mr Trump’s mother, Mary Anne, was born in the Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis.
He said: ‘It gives me a feeling, you know it’s different, you go to another country, you have no relationship to it… but it’s different when your mother was born here.’
Mr Trump was asked about Scottish trade with the US, and whether there could be a different deal for products such as whisky. He replied: ‘I was very particular, this is a part of the world I want to see thrive.’
