Donald Trump Speaks Out On Former Prince Andrew’s Arrest Amid Epstein Files Fallout: ‘Very Sad’

President Donald Trump is speaking out on former Prince Andrew’s legal trouble. The commander-in-chief shared his first public comments on the matter while addressing reporters on Air Force One hours after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. “I think it’s a shame. I think it’s very sad. I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad. To me, it’s a very sad thing,” Trump said, before sharing words of support for Andrew’s brother, King Charles, who is reportedly set to visit the U.S. in April. Trump’s remarks came as Andrew was spotted for the first time since his arrest, riding in the backseat of a car leaving a police station in Norfolk, England, after spending a reported 11 hours in custody. His arrest occurred on his 66th birthday and follows revelations over the former prince’s ties to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, King Charles expressed his “deepest concern,” adding that authorities have the monarch’s “full and wholehearted support and cooperation.” His Majesty later avoided questions about Andrew’s legal trouble when attending a London Fashion Week event and sat front row for the Tolu Coker show alongside British Fashion Council CEO Laura Weir. The family of the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who had previously alleged that Epstein trafficked her to Andrew when she was underage, also issued a statement on Andrew’s arrest. “At last. Today, our broken hearts have been lifted at the news that no one is above the law, not even royalty,” the statement read in part. Andrew’s arrest is not related to these allegations. Andrew has denied having had sex with Giuffre as well as any wrongdoing in relation to his affiliation with Epstein. However, the former prince, who stepped back from active royal duties in 2019, did reach a legal settlement with Giuffre in 2022 after she filed a lawsuit in 2021 claiming he had sexually abused her when she was 17. Trump himself has also denied involvement in Epstein’s crimes and when asked if he thinks Andrew’s arrest could affect any implicated Americans, Trump said he has been “fully exonerated.”