Trump says Prince Harry is 'not speaking for the UK' over Ukraine comment

• Prince Harry called on American leadership to do more to end the war in Ukraine.
• Asked about the Duke's comments, Trump said Prince Harry doesn't speak for the UK.
• King Charles is scheduled to visit the US next week.

President Donald Trump dismissed concerns about Ukraine from Prince Harry.

Trump was speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on April 23 when he was asked whether he thought it was appropriate for a royal to call on the president to do more to end the war in Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and Trump has said it has been harder to end that war than he thought.

"Prince Harry is not speaking for the U.K. That's for sure," Trump responded after sending his regards to Harry's wife, Duchess Meghan. "I think I'm speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry, but I appreciate his advice."

In fact, it is a tense time for the UK-US relationship due to the war in Iran. Trump has criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his reluctance to get involved or offer British bases for launching initial attacks.

What has Prince Harry said about Ukraine?

Prince Harry went to Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 23 and called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, according to Reuters. He also spoke about American leadership's duty to do more to end the war.

"This is a moment for American leadership, a moment for America to show that it can honor its international treaty obligations, not out of charity, but out of its own enduring role in global security and strategic stability," he said, according to Reuters.

Harry also evoked his past serving in the British Army for 10 years, saying, "I am here as a soldier who understands service, as a humanitarian who has seen the human cost of conflict, and as a friend of Ukraine who believes the world must not grow used to this war or numb to its consequences." 

Harry and Meghan stepped down from their senior royal duties in 2020. The comments about Ukraine come days before King Charles III and Queen Camilla are scheduled to come to America for a state visit. Trump told the BBC he believes the visit will help repair US-UK relations.

Contributing: Kathryn Palmer, Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her onX (Twitter),Threads,Bluesky andTikTok.