Prince Harry has once more criticized Donald Trump’s immigration policies, making a pointed remark about ICE agents during a surprise appearance at a British American Business Council event in Los Angeles, California.
The Duke of Sussex was a guest speaker at the organization’s 65th Anniversary Christmas Luncheon on Friday, December 5, 2025, held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California. Addressing an audience of 200 business leaders, the 41-year-old royal humorously cautioned British football fans planning to attend the 2026 World Cup on how to behave and pass through customs and ICE, eliciting laughter from the audience.
The timing of Harry’s comment was notable, as the 2026 World Cup draw had occurred on the same date in Washington, D.C., where President Trump attended and received FIFA’s inaugural peace prize. With England and Scotland already qualified for the tournament and Wales and Northern Ireland facing playoff matches, Harry’s comments about football fans drew strong reactions from the crowd.
Immigration and border enforcement have been central to Trump’s administration, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leading deportation operations nationwide. The president’s emphasis on strict immigration law enforcement made Harry’s joke about ICE agents particularly pointed in the current political climate.
This marked Harry’s second public critique of the president in three days. On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Harry appeared on Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show,” where he said America had “elected a king,” referring to Trump. That comment drew boos from the television audience before Harry joked about CBS’s settlement with Trump, saying, “I’ll settle a baseless lawsuit with the White House. All the things you people on TV do.”
Harry’s public comments about Trump contrast with the president’s previous statements about the duke and his wife, Meghan Markle. Trump had previously ruled out deporting Harry from the United States, despite ongoing controversy over the prince’s visa application and whether he disclosed past drug use in his memoir. In February 2025, Trump told the New York Post he would not pursue deportation: “I don’t want to do that. I’ll leave him alone. He’s got enough problems with his wife. She’s terrible.”
At the British American Business Council event, Harry was generally in a lighthearted mood, making several jokes about U.S. independence and British-American relations. He quipped about American independence from Britain and, more specifically, from his ancestors, noting he doesn’t take it personally when Americans celebrate their independence from British rule.
In another humorous moment, Harry referenced “Downton Abbey” creator Julian Fellowes, one of the event’s honorees. When asked if growing up in the royal family resembled the popular period drama, Harry joked that only one world is filled with drama, intrigue, elaborate dinners, and marriages to Americans, while the other is a TV show.
Harry’s appearance at the event coincided with news that Meghan had reached out to her father, Thomas Markle, who is hospitalized in the Philippines following leg amputation surgery. The 81-year-old underwent the procedure after becoming ill at his home last week. The Duchess of Sussex’s spokesman confirmed, “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.” However, Harry made no mention of his father-in-law’s health situation during his Friday remarks.
Recent public appearances by Harry have elicited mixed reactions, with some viewing his political commentary as inappropriate for someone with royal ties, while others see him exercising his right to free speech as a private citizen in California. Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and have since built independent lives in the United States, though their relationship with the broader royal family remains strained.
About five to six weeks before the Business Council event, Harry attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game, thanks to an invitation from team co-owner Mark Walter. The baseball team owner has faced ongoing protests due to financial ties to ICE detention centers and deportation flights, adding another layer of complexity to Harry’s recent jokes about immigration enforcement.