US President Donald Trump has expressed his condolences to the British royal family following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The former prince was questioned by police after documents linked to his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged, suggesting that he sent sensitive government files to Epstein while serving as the UK’s trade envoy in 2020.
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Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the situation as “very, very sad” and “a shame,” noting the impact on the royal family. He further confirmed that King Charles is expected to visit the United States soon, sending a message of support amid the ongoing investigation.
President Trump expressed sympathy for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the disgraced former prince who was arrested over his ties to pedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday. https://t.co/YogiYwLrUd pic.twitter.com/FBVkez5oP8
— New York Post (@nypost) February 19, 2026
“When I see that, it’s a very sad thing to see and to see what’s going on with his brother, who is obviously coming to our country very soon,” Trump said, highlighting his concern for the family.
The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, eighth in line to the throne, shocked the world and marks an unprecedented moment in recent royal history. Buckingham Palace had not been informed in advance, though King Charles later issued a statement emphasizing that “the law must take its course,” a position echoed by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The revelations come after the release of the Epstein files, which include over three million pages of documents, some of which reportedly implicate Andrew in sending reports about official trips and trade matters to Epstein.
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While the investigation continues, both Trump and the British monarchy have underscored the importance of legal proceedings, with the US president publicly acknowledging the sensitivity of the matter and the global attention it has drawn.