Trump says he feels ‘badly’ for royal family over Andrew-Epstein scandal
President Donald Trump has expressed sympathy for the British monarchy as it attempts to quell the scandal surrounding former Prince Andrew’s links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“It’s a terrible thing that happened to the family,” Trump told reporters Sunday aboard Air Force One.
Trump was responding to a question about King Charles III’s decision last week to ban his brother from the royal family over the saga.
“It’s a tragic situation and it’s unfortunate. I mean, I feel bad for the family,” Trump said.
Trump, known for his fondness for the royal family, was hosted by Charles for an unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom in September.
His comments come as Democrats investigating Epstein intensify calls for Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, as he is now known, to voluntarily testify before Congress about his ties to the disgraced financier.
New emails emerged last week showing Andrew suggesting a “catch-up” just months after Epstein’s release from prison.
This revelation was the kind that Charles may have had in mind with his surprise decision last week to strip his younger brother of his princely title and evict him from his royal manor.
No formal subpoenas have been issued in the United States against Andrew, who also faces calls for further action at home.
Britain’s defense minister said on Sunday that Andrew would be stripped of his last military title. John Healey told BBC television that moves were being made to abolish Andrew’s position as vice-admiral in the British navy.
Andrew had retained this rank in 2022 when Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of his royal and military protections, years after he first stepped back from royal duties.
“It’s a decision that’s right, it’s a decision that the king has indicated we should make and we’re working on it at the moment,” Healey said on Sunday.
Trump’s support for Charles and the extended family comes as the president faces new scrutiny over his own ties to Epstein.
The message was then projected onto Windsor Castle alongside photos of Trump and Epstein, in an incident which saw four people arrested ahead of the president’s state visit to Britain. In September, Democrats on the Republican-led House Oversight Committee released an obscene birthday letter signed “Donald” as part of a leather-bound book of messages for Epstein’s 2003 birthday.
Trump has denied any involvement in the letter.
