US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he felt “bad” for the British royal family after King Charles III. stripped his brother Prince Andrew of his royal title due to his controversial association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I feel very bad. I mean, it’s a terrible thing that happened to the family,” Trump said when asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One about the recent saga.
“It was a tragic situation and it’s very bad. I mean, I feel bad for the family.”
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Trump, 79, has recently been embroiled in political trouble over his alleged association with Jeffrey Epstein, the New York financier who died in prison in 2019.
His remarks came as the British government announced plans to scrap the honorary title of vice-admiral for the former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, his last remaining military post.
The US president has often expressed his admiration for the British royal family, particularly during King Charles’ state visit in September.
Trump was treated to a full state dinner at Windsor Castle, military parades and a flyover during his visit.
Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla stand with U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at a state banquet at Windsor Castle in Windsor, Britain, September 17, 2025. Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS
But the so-called Epstein files have been at the center of the controversy that has engulfed the second term of Trump, who was Epstein’s longtime friend.
In July, the Trump administration announced that it had found no new evidence to warrant the release of additional documents or the opening of a new investigation into the matter.
FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a poster with a photo of Donald Trump, now serving as US president, and disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein protesting Trump’s upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom, in London, Britain September 3, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo
Epstein died while awaiting trial for allegedly sex-trafficking with underage girls who gave him sexual massages.
Conspiracy theory
Authorities have ruled Epstein’s death a suicide, but it has sparked numerous conspiracy theories, particularly among Trump supporters, suggesting he was killed to prevent him from exposing powerful individuals.
Trump, a Republican, has consistently denied any connection to the Epstein scandal, calling it a “hoax” orchestrated by his Democratic opponents.
In the United Kingdom, Prince Andrew’s former association with Epstein continues to cause widespread public outrage.
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On Thursday, Charles stripped his younger brother of all remaining royal titles and honors and banished him from his longtime home at Windsor Castle.
Defense Secretary John Healey told the BBC on Sunday that “under the direction of the King, we are now working to remove the last remaining vice-admiral title that he has”.
Andrew was stripped of his other honorary military titles by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022 after he was sued by Virginia Giuffre, Epstein’s lead accuser.
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The King’s younger brother was once celebrated for his role as a Royal Navy helicopter pilot in the Falklands War in 1982. He retired in 2001 after 22 years of service.
I feel very bad. I mean, it’s a terrible thing that happened to the family.
Andrew has always denied sexually abusing Giuffre, who said in her posthumous memoir published in October that she was trafficked three times for sex with him, twice when she was just 17.
(With input from agencies)
