With Donald Trump’s recent re-election as president, statements he made in the past about making Prince Harry’s U.S. visa application public have sparked interest.
This comes as the conservative Heritage Foundation continues its push for the release of Harry’s immigration records, raising questions around the royal’s past drug use and how it might have impacted his visa approval.
Prince Harry’s US visa controversy
In previous interviews, Trump was asked whether he would get involved in the Prince’s immigration matters due to the details revealed in Harry’s memoir Spare, where Harry openly discussed his drug use.
Trump’s response was straightforward: if Harry lied on his visa application, “they’ll have to take appropriate action.”
These words have been taken by some as a hint that Trump may consider reviewing the Duke’s visa application, though he stopped short of explicitly committing to any action.
When asked if this meant Harry could be denied residence in the U.S., Trump responded that “Oh, I don’t know. You’ll have to tell me. You just have to tell me. You would have thought they would have known this a long time ago.”
Meanwhile, the Heritage Foundation filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act against the Biden administration, requesting the release of Harry’s immigration records.
The foundation argues that there is a strong public interest in understanding whether Harry was transparent about his drug use on his visa application or whether he received special treatment.
Despite their case, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., recently ruled against, stating that the Duke of Sussex’s privacy outweighs the public interest in these records. The foundation has since indicated its intent to appeal.
Will Prince Harry be deported?
At the heart of this controversy is the unlikely but theoretically possible scenario that Harry’s visa could be revoked if it were found he wasn’t forthcoming on his application.
However, experts have told Newsweek that such a drastic measure would be unusual in routine Department of Homeland Security cases.
Trump’s son, Eric, recently commented on the issue with a milder stance than his father. “I don’t give a damn if he did drugs,” he told the Daily Mail, while clarifying that the Trump family has “tremendous respect for the monarchy.” Eric added that he doesn’t feel personally affected by the Prince’s actions.
The tension between Harry and Trump is not new. Back in 2020, Harry and Meghan subtly encouraged Americans to vote, a move seen by many as support for Joe Biden. Though this year, the couple has remained silent on the election.
Still, some believe Trump may ultimately push for the release of Harry’s immigration records, a move that would challenge existing Department of Homeland Security policies on privacy.
The recent court ruling from U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols upheld the confidentiality of the records, noting in a redacted memorandum that, based on a private review, there was no strong enough reason to release the documents.
The court granted a summary judgment in favor of the government, ensuring Harry’s records would stay sealed.
Whether the Heritage Foundation’s request and Trump’s interest in whether the Duke of Sussex lied on his visa will influence the legal proceedings related to Harry’s immigration status in the United States will have to wait.