A journalist who recently spent a weekend in close conversation with Donald Trump has shared an interesting detail about their wide-ranging discussions one prominent political figure never came up at all.
Robert Hardman, a respected journalist and long-time commentator on the British Royal Family, described the visit as an “unforgettable weekend” at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to Hardman, the conversations began almost immediately over breakfast and moved quickly across global issues, including the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and the British monarchy.
Trump, Hardman noted, has long been fascinated by the Royal Family and spoke about them at length. However, despite recent political controversy involving the UK, one name was entirely absent from their discussions.
This comes against the backdrop of criticism Trump faced after remarks he made about NATO’s role in Afghanistan. He suggested that the United States had never truly relied on its allies during the conflict, downplaying the involvement of other nations. The Afghanistan war, launched after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, remains the only time NATO’s collective defense clause has ever been invoked.
Speaking on Fox News, Trump said that while allied nations claimed to have sent troops, their involvement was limited and largely away from front-line combat. The comments drew sharp reactions in the UK.
Prince Harry, who served two tours in Afghanistan, responded by emphasizing that British service members deserve to be discussed “truthfully and with respect.” A total of 457 British troops lost their lives during the conflict.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s remarks as deeply offensive, while reports suggested King Charles III privately expressed concern over the hurt caused by the comments. According to sources, the Palace made it clear that the King was troubled by the impact of the statements, regardless of intent.
Trump later clarified his position, praising British forces and acknowledging their sacrifices. In a post on Truth Social, he described UK soldiers as “very brave,” highlighted the losses suffered in Afghanistan, and reaffirmed the strength of the US-UK military alliance, calling it unbreakable.
When Hardman appeared on the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential, he was asked whether criticism from the British Prime Minister or the King may have influenced Trump’s change in tone. Hardman responded that despite spending several hours with Trump over the weekend and discussing the Royal Family extensively, the name “Keir Starmer” was never mentioned once.
Meanwhile, Daily Mail Diary Editor Richard Eden said he felt uneasy about reports of royal intervention. He argued that Queen Elizabeth II would likely have avoided involvement, stressing that the Royal Family must remain above political disputes. While Eden acknowledged that many Britons found Trump’s remarks inaccurate and offensive, he emphasized the importance of royal neutrality.
Eden also praised Prince William for staying silent on the issue, suggesting that the Prince of Wales is following the example set by his grandmother by maintaining a strictly diplomatic distance from political controversy.
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