Trump Just Humiliated Harry and Meghan with Two Brutal Words… But Even More Embarrassing Is the Reason They’re Having to Stay Silent
In the opulent halls of Windsor Castle, where centuries of royal pomp collide with modern diplomacy, President Donald Trump delivered a masterclass in subtle shade during his recent state visit to the United Kingdom. Amid handshakes with King Charles, warm exchanges with Prince William, and glowing compliments for Princess Kate, Trump found time to lob a pointed barb at the one royal couple conspicuously absent from the festivities: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. With just two brutal words—”no show”—Trump encapsulated their exclusion in a way that has left the Sussexes reeling, and their silence in response speaks volumes about their precarious position.
The state visit, which unfolded over two lavish days in mid-September 2025, was a glittering affair designed to reaffirm the unbreakable Anglo-American alliance. Trump and First Lady Melania arrived to a full royal welcome: red carpets, military honors, and a lineup of senior royals including King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate. The itinerary brimmed with tradition—from a ceremonial luncheon in Windsor’s historic dining rooms to a white-tie state banquet in St. George’s Hall, where crystal chandeliers and ancient tapestries set the scene for toasts and tributes. Trump, ever the showman, praised William as King Charles’s “remarkable son” and lauded Kate’s “radiant” elegance, even as he navigated the event’s formalities with his signature tactile flair—prompting a rare, unprecedented correction from Queen Camilla to uphold royal protocol.
But it was a casual aside during the banquet speech that truly stung the Sussexes. According to reports, when conversation turned to the royal family’s inner circle, Trump quipped about Harry and Meghan’s absence with a dismissive “no show,” delivered with his trademark bluntness. It was a fleeting remark, barely a breath in the evening’s proceedings, but one that landed like a gut punch across the Atlantic. For Harry and Meghan, holed up in their Montecito mansion some 5,400 miles away, it was a public reminder of their self-imposed exile—and a humiliating confirmation that they’ve been sidelined from the very institution they once railed against.
The two words cut deep because they highlight the Sussexes’ diminishing relevance. Once the darlings of a global media frenzy, Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties in 2020 was billed as a bold step toward independence. Yet five years on, their “freedom” has morphed into a string of high-profile flops. Meghan’s Netflix lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, premiered to scathing reviews and dismal viewership, prompting the streamer to scale back the couple’s lucrative $100 million deal. Her Archewell Foundation, meant to champion humanitarian causes, has faced scrutiny for lackluster impact and internal disarray. Harry’s Invictus Games remain a bright spot, but even those efforts are overshadowed by his ongoing legal battles over UK security and his increasingly isolated family ties. As one insider put it, “What do Harry and Meghan have to offer other than their connection to the British Royal Family?” Trump’s “no show” jab underscores that without the royal luster, their star power has faded.
Even more telling, however, is the Sussexes’ enforced silence. No fiery Instagram rebuttal from Meghan, no wounded statement from Harry’s camp—just an eerie quiet that speaks to their vulnerability. Why the gag order? The answer lies in their desperate bid for U.S. residency and citizenship. With Trump back in the White House, the couple’s immigration status hangs by a thread. Harry’s visa application has long been mired in controversy, especially after revelations in his memoir Spare about past drug use, which could disqualify him under U.S. law. Meghan, a U.S. citizen herself, is reportedly pursuing British citizenship for their children, Archie and Lilibet, but any whiff of anti-Trump sentiment could jeopardize their fragile foothold in America.
Trump’s history with the Sussexes adds another layer of sting. The president has never minced words about them: In 2024, he branded Harry a “loose cannon” and suggested deporting him for spilling royal secrets. During his campaign, Trump mocked their Oprah interview and accused them of disloyalty to the Crown. Now, with the power to influence immigration decisions, a single tweet or policy shift from Trump could upend their lives. Staying silent isn’t humility—it’s survival. As applications for UK citizenship from Americans surge amid fears of Trump’s second term, the irony isn’t lost: The couple who fled “institutional racism” and media intrusion may now be trapped by the very American dream they chased.
Meanwhile, the working royals are thriving without them. William’s recent Paris pow-wow with Trump drew effusive praise—”really, very handsome,” the president gushed—while King Charles battles cancer with quiet resolve, closer to his “remarkable son” than ever. The state visit’s motorcade even passed near Frogmore Cottage, the Sussexes’ former UK home, now a symbol of what they left behind. Harry’s recent 11,000-mile dash to the UK for a brief audience with his father—lasting less than an hour—only amplified the awkwardness, a far cry from the red-carpet treatment afforded to Trump.
Maureen Callahan, in her blistering Daily Mail column, nails the pathos: This isn’t just about two words; it’s the Sussexes’ annus horribilis laid bare. Their Netflix woes, podcast cancellations, and fading Hollywood allure have left them “humbled by what they threw away.” Meghan’s latest promo for As Ever—a post about her “magical garden” amid the Windsor pomp—feels like a desperate pivot, a reminder that while the royals woo world leaders, the duchess tends to her Instagram.
Trump’s “no show” may have been brutal, but the Sussexes’ muteness is the real embarrassment—a tacit admission that their empire of influence is crumbling. As the dust settles on Windsor’s red carpets, one thing is clear: In the game of thrones—literal and figurative—the house always wins. For Harry and Meghan, the next move isn’t a tell-all or a tell-off; it’s a desperate bid to stay relevant, and silent.
