President Trump Says He Doesn't Know Prince Andrew
President Trump Comments on the Royal Controversy Surrounding Prince Andrew
"It's a tough story, it's a very tough story," he said, ahead of today's NATO summit at Buckingham Palace.
By Caroline Hallemann Published: Dec 3, 2019
Davidoff Studios Photography//Getty Images
Donald Trump is back in the U.K. for a NATO summit this week, with plans to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace and have tea with Prince Charles. But before today's events kick off, the U.S. President was asked to comment on the on-going royal controversy surrounding Prince Andrew and his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a man whom Trump associated with as well.
Despite there being photos of the President with Prince Andrew going back to 2000, when the Duke of York visited Mar a Lago, Trump said he doesn't know the Queen's son.
"I don't know Prince Andrew but it's a tough story, it's a very tough story," he told reporters, reacting to the news that Andrew had stepped back from his public duties.
The President and First Lady with Prince Andrew during Trump's state visit to the U.K. earlier this year.
Jeff J Mitchell//Getty Images
During Trump's state visit earlier this year, Andrew accompanied the President to several events including a tour of Westminster Abbey and a business-focused breakfast at St James Palace. The Duke was also in attendance at the lavish Buckingham Palace state banquet thrown in honor of the visit.
But today, Prince Andrew is not on the guest list for the reception at Buckingham Palace. Last month, following the enormous public criticism of his Newsnight interview about his friendship with Epstein, Prince Andrew resigned from his royal duties "for the foreseeable future."
"It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work and the valuable work going on in the many organisations and charities that I am proud to support," Andrew wrote in a statement.
"Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission."
While Prince Andrew's absence is perhaps the most noteworthy, he isn't the only royal missing the events today. Prince William will not be in attendance as he is currently on an official visit to Oman and Kuwait. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also skipping the reception, as they are currently taking a break from the public eye.
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