Trump calls Meghan 'nasty' ahead of royal visit
The royal family already had reason to be apprehensive about the arrival of US President Donald Trump, but the controversial leader has just added fuel to the fire.
An inflammatory interview with British tabloid The Sun, saw the president label Meghan Markle, the mother of the Queen’s latest grandchild Archie, ‘nasty’.
Meghan was a vocal opponent of Trump’s presidency during the 2016 election, and once threatened to move to Canada if he won the leadership.
At the time of the presidential election, before she became a member of the royal family, Meghan was outspoken about her disapproval of the then-candidate on talk show The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.
“Trump has made it easy to see that you don’t really want that kind of world that he’s painting,” she said at the time.
When reminded of the former actresses comments, Trump told the newspaper, “I didn’t know that. What can I say? I didn’t know that she was nasty.”
The president reigned in his comments however, adding he thought the former Suits actress would make a ‘very good’ American princess.
The startling statement comes just days before the president is due to meet the royals on a three-day state visit next week.
The US president, will join the Queen, for a private lunch at Buckingham Palace on Monday, which will also be attended by Prince Harry.
Meghan will not meet the US president during his state visit, citing her maternity leave as the reason, a fact the President seemed surprised by.
“I didn’t know that. I hope she is OK,” he told the paper.
The comments come after speculation that Prince Harry will be uncomfortable meeting the President, given his suggestive comments about his mother Princess Diana in the past.
In wake of the explosive interview, it is likely the mood is even more tense than previously thought.
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