Prince Harry has seemingly taken a thinly veiled swipe at President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk during a surprise appearance at the Upfront Summit in Los Angeles. The Duke of Sussex’s remarks came just hours after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Trump and extended an unprecedented second state visit invitation on behalf of King Charles.
A pointed remark on power and control
During his speech, Harry spoke about his approach to investing and philanthropy since stepping away from royal life, but also ventured into politics. He warned about the dangers of leadership driven by power rather than service.
“This would be a great time to talk about how a sickness in leadership across sectors—from politics to tech—can have a detrimental effect on millions, if not billions, of people,” he said. “When basic morals and empathy are abandoned in favor of power and control. But I’m not gonna get into all that now!”
His comments were interpreted by many as a jab at Trump, whose aggressive leadership style has drawn criticism, and Musk, who has faced backlash for his handling of X (formerly Twitter).
A history of friction with Trump
Harry’s remarks are the latest in a series of exchanges with Trump. The president has previously slammed Meghan Markle, calling her “terrible” and suggesting Harry was “whipped” by his wife.
Their tensions date back to 2016 when Meghan publicly called Trump “divisive and misogynistic” while supporting Hillary Clinton’s campaign. The animosity resurfaced earlier this month when Trump again criticized Meghan, prompting Harry to speak about the “lack of weak moral character” in global leadership at the Invictus Games.
The Starmer-Trump connection
Harry’s speech came just hours after Starmer’s high-stakes meeting with Trump, where the UK prime minister pushed for military support in Ukraine and sought to secure trade benefits for Britain.
During their joint press conference, Trump hinted at sparing the UK from upcoming tariffs and praised Starmer’s efforts. He even complimented Starmer’s wife, calling her “impressive.”
For his part, Starmer emphasized the importance of a fair peace deal in Ukraine and lauded Trump’s diplomatic efforts. The meeting ended with King Charles extending an invitation for Trump’s second state visit to the UK—an unprecedented move.
Harry’s US visa controversy
Harry’s remarks also came amid his ongoing legal battle over whether he misled U.S. immigration officials about past drug use.
A lawsuit filed by the Heritage Foundation is seeking the release of Harry’s visa records, questioning whether he received special treatment. Trump has reportedly vowed “transparency” on the issue, with sources suggesting he may back legal action if it’s found Harry misrepresented his drug history.
“If Harry is found to have not told the truth on his visa application, then he could face prosecution,” a source told the Mail on Sunday.
What’s next for Harry and Trump?
With tensions between the Sussexes and Trump showing no signs of easing, the invitation for a second state visit could set the stage for more drama. If Trump visits the UK again, Harry may have to decide whether to stay silent or continue his subtle criticisms of the controversial leader.
Meanwhile, with the visa case still ongoing, Trump’s pledge for transparency could put Harry in an even more precarious position in the coming months.
