Trump throws down gauntlet to Meghan: run for president in 2024

In a lengthy TV interview the one-term US president criticised the Duchess, and took a swing at US President Joe Biden’s first 50 days

Harry and Meghan during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. Photo: Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions /PA

Josie Ensor

March 18 2021 02:30 AM

Donald Trump has said he is “not a fan” of Meghan Markle, but hopes she will run for US president in 2024 – so he can run against her.

Mr Trump, during a 30-minute call to Fox News, said he did not like the way the Duchess of Sussex had spoken of the British royal family and the Queen, whom he called a “tremendous person”.

Asked by a Fox host about reports Meghan had met with “Democratic operatives” about a possible 2024 bid, Mr Trump said: “I hope that happens because if that happened, I think I would have an even stronger feeling toward running. I am not a fan of Meghan.”

In one of his lengthiest interviews since leaving the White House, Mr Trump remained non-committal about seeking to recapture the presidency following his one term in office.

“Based on every poll, they want me to run again,” he said. “But we’re going to take a look and we’ll see,” suggesting he would wait until after certain Senate races.

He used the interview to boast about his list of achievements during his term as president, as well as denigrating President Joe Biden for his “weak” first 50 days in office.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Piers Morgan’s comments about Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey have led to the highest number of complaints ever made to the British TV regulator.

The episodes of ITV’s Good Morning Britain on March 8 and 9 sparked 57,121 complaints to Ofcom.

A statement from the regulator said: “We can confirm that this issue has attracted the highest number of complaints since our reporting began.”

Piers Morgan responded on Twitter, writing: “Only 57,000? I’ve had more people than that come up and congratulate me in the street for what I said. The vast majority of Britons are right behind me.”

ITV announced that Piers Morgan had left the show on the evening of March 9, shortly after the British regulator launched an investigation under its harm and offence rules.

Piers Morgan said on-air that he “didn’t believe a word” she said in her televised interview with Oprah Winfrey. (© Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021)