President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States will not pay the costs of protecting Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, who have moved to California.
"I am a friend of the United Kingdom and a great admirer of Queen Elizabeth," Trump wrote on Twitter two hours before his press conference dealing with the emerging corona virus.
On Harry and Meghan's decision to give up permanent residency in Canada and move to California, he explained, "The United States will not pay to protect them. They are the ones who must pay!"
The Washington Post reported that a spokesperson for the couple later published a statement saying that Harry and Meghan had no intention of requesting Washington's help to protect them.
"The necessary security arrangements have been put in place and they have been funded by special means," she said.
The couple boarded a private plane to Los Angeles last week as Canada and the United States were preparing to close their borders to fight the spread of Covid 19.
Former American actress Meghan Markle has many friends in California, where her mother also lives periodically.

I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the US however, the US will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!

- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020