New York.-N Prince Harry On Wednesday night, she starred in one of the most talked-about television interventions of the year in the United States, appearing unexpectedly on… “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” And launch a series of High-voltage political jokes directed at the president Donald Trump.
Although the tone was humorous, the clip was the Duke of Sussex’s direct criticism of the president since the dispute over his visa, reopening a dispute that had been silent for months.
Harry, 41, entered the Ed Sullivan Theater after Colbert criticized the spread of “problematic” Christmas movies with royal themes. The Prince continued his comic streak by claiming he “got lost” while searching for an audition for “The Gingerbread Prince Saves Christmas in Nebraska.” When Colbert asked him why the Prince Royal would want to join a Hallmark-style production, he replied: “You Americans are obsessed with Christmas movies and, obviously, with royalty. Why not?
The humor soon turned to politics. When Colbert dismissed America’s supposed obsession with the royal family, Harry made the most talked-about statement of the night: “Really? I heard they elected a king“.
The reference refers to the gesture of Trump, who last February called himself “the King” in a post published by the “Truth Social” newspaper. The official White House account
The phrase also referred to “No Kings” movement.I came out to denounce what its participants consider a Authoritarian seizure of power by the president. The group organized protests in June, coinciding with Trump’s birthday and the military’s anniversary, and again in October, amid the government shutdown.
The sketch progressed with an exchange about Harry’s hypothetical career as “Prince Hallmark,” which opened the door to another provocative comment: “I’ll do anything. I’ll make a tape, fly to an audition, settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House… all those things you guys do on TV.” “I didn’t do any of those things,” Colbert replied, surprised. “Maybe that’s why they canceled you,” Harry finished.
The joke was immediately interpreted as a… A reference to the $16 million legal settlement CBS reached with Trump In July, following accusations that the network edited a misleading interview with then-Republican candidate Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign. Colbert sharply criticized CBS over the push, and three days after the release, the company announced the cancellation of “The Late Show,” citing financial reasons tied to cutbacks at Paramount.
Aside from the mild tone, Harry’s comments add a new chapter to the long-standing tension between him and Trump. The dispute dates back to 2020, when Harry and Meghan Markle issued messages that were interpreted as implicit support for Joe Biden During the presidential campaign. Meghan participated in an initiative promoted by Michelle Obama to encourage voting, while Harry called for the rejection of “hate speech and misinformation.” Trump responded from the White House, saying: “I’m not a fan of her.” I wish Harry good luck, because he’s going to need it.“.
The conflict seemed to calm down in the following years, but it took a legal turn in 2023, when the conservative group The Heritage Foundation sued the government to obtain the prince’s visa documents. The organization said that after the publication of his memoir “Spare”, in which Harry admitted to using illegal drugs, it should be investigated whether he lied on immigration forms or whether he received preferential treatment. The group even asked Trump to review the documents.
Although legal experts have noted that visa cancellation would be unusual without a criminal conviction,… Trump maintained a state of suspense during his 2024 interviews, hinting at the possibility of taking action “if he lies.”. Finally, the court rejected Heritage’s lawsuit, which today does not seek to reopen the case. There is also no indication that the White House is reviewing the Duke’s immigration status. But the background of the file remains a sensitive point for Harry, especially in the event of renewed political tensions.
For the prince, the risks are no less: Any recurrence of the conflict could reopen discussions about him remaining in the United States.It feeds the narrative that he is interfering in local politics — a sensitive matter for a member of the royal family — and complicates his public life in the country where he has resided since 2020.