Donald Trump calls former Prince Andrew's arrest 'very sad' and 'very bad for the royal family'
President Donald Trump described the arrest of former Prince Andrew as fair “very sad”after he was taken into police custody on Thursday, February 19.
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“I think it's a shame. I think it's very sad,” Trump said when asked about Andrew's arrest. “I think it's very bad for the royal family. It's very, very sad. For me, it's a very sad thing.”
Trump added that King Charles will come to the United States “very soon”naming the monarch “a fantastic man”. There is speculation that King Charles will make a state visit this spring, writes People magazine.
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton recently met with Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, during the couple's second state visit to the United Kingdom in September 2025.
On Thursday, at 8 am local time, the former Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested by the police on the day he would have turned 66, at the residence of the royal family at Sandringham, in Norfolk, England, on suspicion of abuse of public office, according to the BBC.
Authorities are investigating Andrew following allegations he shared confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein while acting as Britain's trade envoy, according to the source. Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in his connections with Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes and has since died.
About 11 hours after his arrest, Andrew left Aylsham Police Station in Norfolk and was photographed in the back seat of a car.
Thames Valley Police issued an updated statement confirming the release of a “man in his sixties from Norfolk”, although Andrew was not named directly. “The man arrested has been released under investigation,” the authorities stated.
Police also added that searches in Norfolk had ended, but those in Berkshire, where Andrew's former home, Royal Lodge, is located, were still ongoing. The BBC reported earlier in the day that Andrew's homes were being searched.
Hours after Andrew's arrest, King Charles issued a statement through Buckingham Palace.
“It was with the deepest concern that I learned of the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the alleged abuse of public office,” said the king. “The next step is the full, fair and proper process whereby this matter will be properly investigated by the appropriate authorities.
“In this regard, as we have said before, they have our full support and cooperation,” he continued. “Let's be clear: the law must take its course.”
Author Russell Myers told PEOPLE that the arrest represents “an extremely serious situation, not just for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, but for the entire monarchy.”
“The questions will rightly be: Does the Institution have any role in protecting or ignoring what Andrew is accused of doing,” continues Myers, author of William and Catherine, The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story. “It is therefore right, as the King says, that 'full, fair and proper trial should take place to find out the truth.'”
Referring to the fact that several police forces in the UK are investigating the allegations against Andrew, Myers adds that this “will put additional pressure on Andrew to cooperate with US investigators investigating Epstein's crimes.”
The former royal is not the first big name associated with Epstein. In fact, Trump's friendship with the American financier has often been called into question. After much controversy, the Department of Justice released large volumes of documents.
A New York Times review found more than 5,300 files that referenced the president and associated terms, according to a report earlier this month. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein.
