Prince Harry has met many celebrities over his life, but as a working royal, most had to address him as “Your Royal Highness.” Since stepping back from royal duties, his life has changed dramatically.
In 2017, Harry met Melania Trump at the Invictus Games in Toronto. A photo of the meeting sparked rumors about a hand gesture he made, with some saying it was a devil sign—though experts disagreed.
Now living in the US, Harry and Meghan are free from royal duties and have secured multimillion-dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify. Harry also published his memoir, Spare.
However, former President Donald Trump has publicly opposed Harry’s stay in the US and even threatened to deport him if elected. Their tense history reportedly began several years ago.
Prince Harry’s tense history with Donald Trump
In 2019, Donald Trump visited the UK and met senior Royals, including Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II.
Before the visit, tensions arose because of Meghan Markle. In 2016, Meghan called Trump “misogynistic” and said she’d vote for Hillary Clinton.
During the 2019 visit, Meghan was on maternity leave after Archie’s birth and didn’t appear. Reports said they were kept apart to avoid conflict, especially since Trump told The Sun he hadn’t heard Meghan’s critical comments and was surprised by them.
“He will lay on his very best charm”
Donald Trump calling Meghan “nasty” upset both her and Prince Harry. Harry was supposed to attend a lunch where Trump would be present.
Royal expert Victoria Arbiter said Harry would have to “toe the line” and stay politically neutral despite the awkwardness. He would be professional and polite, supporting the Queen and thanking Melania Trump for leading the US team to the 2017 Invictus Games.
Harry had met Melania in 2017, but details about their meeting got little media attention.
Over the years, it’s clear Harry was unhappy with Trump’s comments about Meghan, and Trump isn’t a fan of Harry either.
Donald Trump threatened Harry with deportation from the US
Last year, The Heritage Foundation sued the Department of Homeland Security to access Prince Harry’s immigration records. Visa applicants must disclose any drug use, which can lead to denial.
In his memoir Spare, Harry admitted using drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and magic mushrooms. It’s unclear if he declared this on his visa. In March, Donald Trump said Harry could be deported if he lied.
Trump also said he “wouldn’t protect” Harry if elected president in 2024, calling Harry’s actions a betrayal of the Queen.
Harry isn’t a US citizen but has thought about applying. He told ABC News it’s not a priority for him.
Harry ‘signaled devil horns’ during Melania Trump meeting, conspiracy theories claimed
In 2017, before the Invictus Games in Toronto, Prince Harry met Melania Trump—the first Royal Family member to meet a Trump since the 2016 election.
They spent about 30 minutes together at the Sheraton Hotel, talked briefly, and posed for photos.
One photo sparked controversy: Harry’s hand gesture looked like “devil horns,” with his pinky and index fingers out. Some online claimed it was a sinister sign dating back to the Middle Ages.
However, body language experts disagreed, saying it wasn’t what conspiracy theorists claimed.
Body language expert Patti Wood told the Huffington Post that people misunderstood Harry’s gesture.
She said the “devil horns” sign is actually a protective gesture against evil spirits, darkness, or illness—not a devil symbol.
Wood explained that Harry placing his hand on his stomach is a self-comfort cue, often seen in world leaders’ photos with Trump. It shows tension and a need to protect oneself.
Another expert, Joe Navarro, said Harry’s hand position might just be random—like preparing to unbutton his jacket or sit down—and warned against reading too much into it.
“I have to wonder, was he going to unbutton his jacket and then changed his mind? Was he in prep for sitting and then they asked him to stand again to do more photos? To me, you can’t draw too many inferences from the photo. I wouldn’t personally read too much into that.”
“A self-soothing behavior”
A body language expert said Harry’s hand on his belly shows psychological discomfort—a common self-soothing gesture he and his brother often use to ease tension.
Another expert, Tonya Reiman, told Inside Edition it was simply a comfort move. Covering the stomach helps people feel relaxed, especially when under stress like camera flashes.
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