Meghan and Harry set record straight after Trump says US won't pay for security costs

In the midst of a global pandemic US President Donald Trump decided to make one thing very clear after hearing the news that Prince Harry and Meghan had relocated to LA.

In a tweet on Sunday, Trump said that Harry and Meghan Markle must pay for their own security if they move to the United States.

It was reported the couple had moved with their son Archie from Vancouver Island – where they went after leaving the UK and renouncing their royal life – to Los Angeles.

“The US will not pay for their security protection,” Trump tweeted. “They must pay!”

It was an article in the Daily Mail, that may have led to the confusion after claims attributed to a “royal source” said the couple will have to “plead” with the president for protection.

In essence, Trump’s tweet was a response to rumours that the couple would ask for his help, rather than an actual request.

Later the same day, the royal couple replied to those rumours saying, in a statement to Chris Ship, royal correspondent for British television network ITV, that “privately funded security arrangements have been made” and that Meghan and Harry have “no plans” to get assistance from the US.

Still, President Trump was not the only famous person to respond to the Daily Mail report.

TV personality Meghan McCain also responded to the article via Twitter writing, “With all the struggle and pain in this country as we are possibly headed into a second Great Depression, this has GOT to be a joke.”

“We are NOT using average American taxpayer dollars to pay for their security detail. Why isn’t this England’s problem?” she continued.

“The American taxpayers should not be footing the bill for this under any circumstances whatsoever, particularly in this time of crisis. Our tax dollars need to be helping our healthcare workers and American families in need!”

When living in Canada, which is part of the British Commonwealth, the Canadian government did for some time help foot the bill of the couple’s security, but that has since ended.

A statement given to Yahoo News UK from the Canadian Office of the Minister of Public Safety read, “As the duke and duchess are currently recognised as Internationally Protected Persons, Canada has an obligation to provide security assistance on an as-needed basis.

“At the request of the Metropolitan Police, the RCMP has been providing assistance to the Met since the arrival of the duke and duchess to Canada intermittently since October 2019. The assistance will cease in the coming weeks, in keeping with their change in status.” The last day of their royal duties will be March 31.

All that said, Trump did receive backlash for even engaging in the conversation about the royals while the coronavirus pandemic wages on across the nation.

Actress Mia Farrow replied to his tweet about the royals with this plain and simple message: “People are dying.”

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