Trump Said the U.S. Won't Pay for Meghan and Harry's Security

(Image credit: Karwai Tang)

By Emily Dixon published 30 March 20

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly moved from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Los Angeles, Meghan's hometown (and the home of her mom, Doria Ragland.)
On Sunday, Donald Trump tweeted that "the U.S. will not pay for their security protection," adding, "They must pay!"
Responding to Trump's tweet, a royal spokesperson said Meghan and Harry had "no plans to ask the US government for security resources," continuing, "Privately funded security arrangements have been made."

News broke last week that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry moved from Vancouver Island, Canada, to Los Angeles, before the Canada-United States border closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. The couple are reportedly living in a "secluded compound" in L.A., Meghan's hometown and the home of her mom, social worker and yoga instructor Doria Ragland.

On Twitter, Donald Trump responded to the move—by declaring that the U.S. would not fund the Sussexes' security in L.A. "I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom," he tweeted. "It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!"

Resign now.#TrumpdemicMarch 29, 2020

As it turns out, however, Meghan and Harry were likely unfazed by Trump's message—because they never intended to ask the U.S. to pay. In a statement to the Guardian, a royal spokesperson said, "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have no plans to ask the US government for security resources. Privately funded security arrangements have been made." Guess that tweet was redundant then!

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Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.