The political landscape of the United States is heating up, and amidst the ongoing 2024 Presidential election campaign, a peculiar and highly publicized visa row involving Prince Harry has become a hot topic. Donald Trump, a leading contender for the Republican nomination, has made no secret of his disdain for the Duke of Sussex, publicly criticizing Harry and expressing his belief that the Biden administration has been overly lenient in granting him a visa.
Trump’s rhetoric has fuelled speculation about Harry’s potential deportation if he wins the election. This has led to much discussion about a possible ‘backup’ plan for the Duke, which seems to have manifested in the Sussexes’ recent acquisition of a home in Portugal.
“I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Trump suddenly said: Right, I’m sending Prince Harry out of this country. I think it’s very wise to take all the possibilities into account [and look to live elsewhere]. Looking at it from the outside, it makes perfect sense that they should have a backup plan,” Royal pundit Hugo Vickers told Express UK.
Trump has been particularly vocal in his disapproval of Harry, branding him a “traitor” for his criticisms of the Royal Family. “I wouldn’t protect him. He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable. He would be on his own if it was down to me,” Trump told the Daily Express in February this year.
Furthermore, Trump has hinted at the possibility of Harry’s visa being revoked based on allegations of drug use, a claim that Harry has not publicly addressed. “We’ll have to see if they know something about the drugs, and if he lied they’ll have to take appropriate action,” Trump told GB News during an interview in late March.
Although Trump has remained coy about deportation, his son Eric Trump has been more direct in his dismissal of the Duke. “Truthfully I don’t give a damn about Prince Harry and I don’t think this country does either…You look at this one black sheep who doesn’t exactly know where he is, led by a wife that is pretty unpopular, both here and over where you are…he has gone off the deep end and it’s sad to watch…but people able to differentiate between the two sides…I don’t give a damn if he did drugs. It means nothing,” Eric Trump told The Daily Mail last week.
As the election draws closer, the drama surrounding Prince Harry’s visa status continues to unfold. Will Trump follow through on his threats of deportation? And what impact will this have on the Sussexes’ future? Only time will tell.
