Prince Harry has once again criticized Donald Trump’s immigration policies, making a sharp joke about ICE agents during a surprise appearance at a British American Business Council event in Los Angeles, California.
The Duke of Sussex served as the 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 advised British football fans planning to attend the 2026 World Cup to behave and successfully pass through customs and ICE to enter the country, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Harry’s comments coincided with the 2026 World Cup draw, which took place on the same day in Washington, D.C., where President Trump was present and received FIFA’s inaugural peace prize. With England and Scotland already qualified and Wales and Northern Ireland in the playoffs, Harry’s remarks about football fans elicited strong reactions from attendees.
Trump’s immigration and border enforcement policies are central to his administration, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leading deportation efforts nationwide. The president’s focus on strict immigration law enforcement makes Harry’s joke about ICE particularly relevant in the current political climate.
This was Harry’s second public critique of the president within three days. On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Harry appeared on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert, where he quipped that America had “elected a king” in reference to Trump. The joke drew boos from the television audience before Harry made a sarcastic comment 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 jabs at Trump contrast with the president’s previous statements about the duke and his wife, Meghan Markle. Trump has previously stated he would not deport Harry from the U.S. despite controversy over his visa application and whether he disclosed past drug use in his memoir. In February 2025, Trump told the New York Post he wouldn’t seek 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 in a lighthearted mood, delivering several jokes about U.S. independence and British-American relations. He joked about America’s independence from Britain and, more specifically, from his ancestors, saying 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 life in the royal family resembled the popular period drama, Harry joked that 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 falling ill at his home. The Duchess of Sussex’s spokesman confirmed, “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.” However, Harry did not mention his father-in-law’s health during his remarks.
Harry’s recent public appearances have elicited mixed reactions, with some viewing his political commentary as inappropriate for someone with royal ties. In contrast, others see it as his right to free speech as a private citizen in California. Harry and Meghan stepped back from official royal duties in 2020 and have since established independent lives in the U.S., although their relationship with the wider royal family remains strained.
Approximately five to six weeks before the Business Council event, Harry attended a Los Angeles Dodgers game, invited by team co-owner Mark Walter. The baseball team owner has faced ongoing protests due to financial links to ICE detention centers and deportation flights, adding complexity to Harry’s recent jokes about immigration enforcement.
