Trump Says He Is “Happy” Harry and Meghan Left the U.S., Calls Their Treatment of Royals “Disrespectful”

President Donald Trump has welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to the United Kingdom, saying he was “not a fan” of the couple and that he would not have welcomed them back into the royal family if he were in the family’s position.

Trump made the remarks Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Oval Office after reporters asked about the Sussexes’ decision to relocate to Britain following six years in California.

 

 

 

Trump: “I’m Happy About It. I Was Not a Fan.”

Donald Trump did not hide his opinion when asked about the Sussexes' move.

“I’m happy about it. I was not a fan.”

Trump said he believed Harry and Meghan had treated the British royal family with “great disrespect,” directing particular criticism at Meghan.

“I didn’t like the way she acted,” Trump said, adding that he thought she was “terribly disrespectful” toward Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.

Trump then offered an unusually direct assessment of how he would have handled the situation.

“If I were the royal family, I would not have taken them back.”

The remarks closely match the wording used in the Daily Wire graphic, although the graphic’s “good riddance” language is editorial framing rather than a direct quotation from Trump. The president said he was happy the couple had left the United States, but he did not use the phrase “good riddance” in the Oval Office exchange.

Harry and Meghan Have Returned to Britain

The comments came shortly after Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

The family arrived in Britain on Aug. 26 after spending about six years living in California. Reports say they intend to spend an extended period in Britain and have arranged for their children to attend school there. They are expected to live at a private, non-royal residence rather than return to official royal duties.

The couple stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and subsequently established their primary home in California.

Their return does not mean they are becoming working members of the monarchy again. Current reporting indicates that Harry and Meghan will remain non-working royals while maintaining their commercial and charitable activities.

A Possible New Chapter for the Sussexes

The move comes after years of strained relations between Harry and his family.

Harry and Meghan's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, their Netflix documentary and Harry's memoir Spare all brought their disagreements with the royal family into public view. Harry has also remained estranged from his older brother, Prince William.

There have nevertheless been signs of a limited thaw.

In July, King Charles and Queen Camilla met Harry, Meghan and their children at Highgrove. It was reportedly the first time Charles had seen Archie and Lilibet since 2022. The meeting was described by a palace source as a private family occasion.

The Sussexes' decision to spend more time in Britain therefore comes at a potentially significant moment for the royal family, particularly as Charles continues to undergo cancer treatment.

Trump Has Criticized Meghan Before

Trump's latest comments are not an isolated criticism.

His relationship with Meghan has been publicly cool for years. Meghan had criticized Trump during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, while Trump later said he was “not a fan” of hers.

The president has also previously weighed in on Harry's immigration status in the United States. A 2025 legal dispute over Harry's 2020 visa application centered on whether his previously acknowledged drug use had been disclosed on his immigration paperwork. The U.S. government ultimately released heavily redacted documents and said there was no evidence Harry had received preferential treatment.

That controversy is separate from Trump's latest remarks, however. Trump did not announce any immigration action against Harry or Meghan on Wednesday. His comments were political and personal criticism of the couple and their relationship with the royal family.

What the Viral Graphic Gets Right — and What It Leaves Out

The Daily Wire image is based on a genuine Trump statement, but its presentation is more provocative than Trump's actual words.

What is accurate:

• Trump said he was happy Harry and Meghan had left the U.S.
• He said he was not a fan of the couple.
• He accused them of treating the royal family with “great disrespect.”
• He criticized Meghan's treatment of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.
• He said he would not have taken them back if he were part of the royal family.

What is editorialized:

• Trump did not literally say “good riddance.”
• He did not announce that Harry or Meghan were being expelled from the United States.
• There was no new immigration or legal action against the couple in connection with their move.
• Their relocation was their own decision, announced before Trump's comments.

Bottom Line

Trump has made clear that he views Harry and Meghan's departure from the United States positively and remains sharply critical of how he believes they treated Britain's royal family.

But the larger story is less dramatic than the viral headline suggests. The Sussexes chose to return to Britain, where they are expected to live as private, non-working members of the royal family. Trump's “good riddance” message is therefore best understood as a characterization of his comments, not a direct quote from the president.

Reuters — Trump says he is “happy” Harry and Meghan left the U.S.

BBC — Harry and Meghan's return to the UK

AP — Harry and Meghan's plans to return to Britain