Key Trump aide who could decide whether Prince Harry loses his visa slams Meghan for being ‘woke’
Prince Harry’s future in the United States could be decided by a man who once called his wife a “classic woke” and accused her of wanting “free gifts.”
Depending on which type of visa the Duke of Sussex has, his fate could be in the hands of whoever appoints Donald Trump as Secretary of State.
A leading contender is Ric Grenell, the former US ambassador to Germany who also served as acting director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term.
In the wake of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s historic interview with Oprah Winfrey on March 7, 2021, Grenell offered an uncompromising stance.
“Meghan Markle is the classic American progressive,” he tweeted. “She doesn’t want to do the work but is furious that she doesn’t get the freebies.”
Potential Secretary of State Ric Grenell with Donald Trump
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, delivered a video message at the Global Ministerial Conference on Violence against Children in Colombia. this week
Another contender for secretary of state is Senator Marco Rubio, who has not made public his feelings about Prince Harry.
Rubio has a keen interest in British affairs and has in the past praised the late Queen and Sir Winston Churchill.
The Duke’s visa status remains secret after Judge Carl Nichols in Washington DC ruled on September 9 that US government documents relating to it will not be made public.
The judge sealed his order, so it is unknown why he made that decision.
However, experts have indicated to Dailymail.com that the Duke may have a rare diplomatic visa known as an A-1 head of state visa.
According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, “members of a ruling royal family” are eligible for a standard A-1 diplomatic visa, but this is for when they are performing official duties.
A holder of an A-1 Head of State visa can be in the US regardless of the purpose of their travel and can work if they wish.
There is a discretionary exception for anyone “individually authorized” by the U.S. Department of State.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex presents the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award during the 13th annual NFL Honors on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas
Donald Trump greets Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, during a campaign rally at the JS Dorton Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 4, 2024
The regulations state: ‘In any case where there is uncertainty as to the applicability of these regulations to an alien principal applicant requesting such nonimmigrant status, the matter shall be promptly referred to the Department of State for consideration or acceptance of the accreditation will take place. be granted.’
Melissa Chavin, a British-based immigration lawyer, said such visas are proposed to the Foreign Office by the Foreign Office and are a “handshake” arrangement.
The Duke would have a ‘term of status’ and would only need to be re-vetted ‘from time to time’.
It leaves open the possibility that the Duke may revoke his status.
‘If the US Foreign Office says he is against US foreign policy, that will really anger the British Foreign Office. That wouldn’t be nice to an ally,” Chavin said.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala, California on October 5, 2024
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, visits Girls Inc. from Greater Santa Barbara on October 2, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California
‘Maybe they’ll use it as a chip. Maybe it will come up if the British do something the Americans don’t like. So it is not a nice position for him (the Duke) to play a role in the diplomatic game.”
She added: “I don’t think they (the Trump administration) would do it for no reason, it would make for a very bad relationship. It is a chip to negotiate with the British.’
The lawsuit over the Duke’s visa status was brought under the Freedom of Information Act by a Washington DC-based think tank, the Heritage Foundation, against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees immigration, rather than the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The think tank claims the duke’s admission of drug use in his 2023 memoir ‘Spare’ could have made him ineligible for entry into the US.
Richard Grenell, a top adviser to former US President Donald Trump and former acting Director of National Intelligence
Eric Trump has hinted that the British prince could be deported if his father wins the presidential election
When applying for a non-diplomatic U.S. visa, foreigners are asked on the DHS DS160 visa form, “Are you or have you ever been a drug abuser or addict?”
They are also asked if they have ever “violated any laws regarding controlled substances.”
If they answer ‘yes’, they can still get an exemption.
Sources close to the duke have previously indicated that he responded truthfully to his visa application.
However, it has not been confirmed which type of visa he applied for.
After the judge’s ruling, the think tank will appeal and believes that a Trump presidency will increase the chance that the documents will eventually be released.
It accuses the Biden administration of “going to great lengths to protect Prince Harry.”
In March, Donald Trump suggested he could deport the duke. He told GB News: ‘We will have to see if they know anything about the drugs and if he was lying they will have to take appropriate action.’
Last month, Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, told Dailymail.com: “Frankly, I don’t care about Prince Harry and I don’t think this country does either.”
During a hearing in the lawsuit in February, Judge Nichols and John Bardo, the DHS attorney, repeatedly discussed whether the Duke could have an A-1 diplomatic visa.
Mr Bardo told the court: ‘He could have a category A diplomatic visa. It’s possible. We would say it is possible,’
If the Duke has an A-1 visa, his admission of drug use would not be an issue as holders would not need to be vetted for past drug abuse, addiction or drug-related crimes.
His later admission of drug use in his book would also have no influence on such a visa.
The Duchess of Sussex addresses the audience during the ‘Afro Women and Power’ forum at the Municipal Theater in Cali, Colombia, on August 18, 2024
If he has a diplomatic visa and it is revoked, the Duke can still apply for a green card through his marriage to an American, or an O-1 visa for “aliens with extraordinary abilities.”
However, experts have told Dailymail.com that this could force the royal family to have to pass on private information to the US government.
Under the US Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) law, if the Duke becomes a US tax resident, he would have to disclose all bank accounts in the UK.
“There’s a reason the US has royal visas, and it has to do with taxes and foreign bank accounts,” Chavin said. ‘This would affect the rest of the royal family, not just him. That’s one of the reasons.
“It’s to protect things that should be private and that affect other people like the King of England, things that the British would like to keep private.”
