Donald Trump has hit out at the African country Lesotho, a country close to Prince Harry’s heart, just weeks after he promised not to deport the Duke of Sussex from the US.
The President vowed to cut off international aid to the nation to bring down the federal deficit in a joint address to Congress.
Prince Harry, 40, often speaks of his love of the southern African country where he co-founded Sentebale, a charity to support children who live in extreme poverty or suffer from HIV/Aids.
The Duke of Sussex, who now residences in California with his wife and their two children, founded the philanthropy project in 2006 before he met Meghan Markle.
Donald Trump has hit out at the African country of Lesotho
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During the address, Trump said: “Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of.”
The comment prompted laughter from some Republican lawmakers.
Harry is understood to be good friends with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded the charity with the Duke of Sussex.
The name Sentebale means “forget-me-not” in Sesotho, the official language of Lesotho.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho at a welcome event at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s CentreGettyThe charity says the word highlights that the children are not forgotten and represents the continuation of the Late Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, whose work helped those affected by AIDS and poverty.
Prince Harry previously highlighted that Lesotho has a place in his heart after visiting the nation during his gap year in 2004.
He said: “As we travelled the country I was amazed by its raw beauty; but I was also struck by the many children I met whose lives had been shattered by the loss of a parent and in some cases both.
“I couldn’t believe that so many children had been robbed of their childhoods by extreme poverty and the ravages of HIV and AIDS.”
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Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry in Lesotho are said to be good friends
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He added: “Behind those smiles it was clear they desperately needed care, attention and above all, love.”
Trump’s comments follow the US President declaring he will not deport Prince Harry from America, despite an ongoing case surrounding his immigration records.
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, is currently battling the Department of Homeland Security in Washington DC over Harry’s visa records after the prince admitted to taking cocaine, cannabis and mushrooms in his memoir ‘Spare’.
Regarding deporting Prince Harry, Trump said: “I don’t want to do that, I’ll leave him alone.”