Harry and Meghan’s decision to break their silence on the US presidential election is a thinly-veiled attempt to ‘harvest’ votes for Kamala Harris and impress the ‘woke Hollywood elite’, critics told MailOnline today.
The Chairman of the Republican movement in the UK has said that the Sussexes’ just ‘can’t help themselves’ when America is in an election year, dismissing their claim they are politically neutral.
Greg Swenson, a London-based financier and Chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, told MailOnline today: ‘They can’t help themselves. By encouraging people to vote they are essentially ballot harvesting for Kamala.
‘You don’t have to say it. Like the man sitting in his car, alone, with a Covid mask on: you don’t need a bumper sticker, we know who you voted for’.
In 2020 the couple did not endorse a candidate but urged Americans to vote in the ‘most important election of our lifetime’. Meghan even cold-called Americans urging them to vote.
This was interpreted by many as backing Joe Biden, including by Mr Trump, who said he was ‘no fan’ of the former Suits star and Harry luck ‘because he’s going to need it’.
But it was revealed that with just two months until America goes to the polls, the couple’s Archewell Foundation has been sending out personalised letters to unregistered voters and insisting that ‘every voice matters’, but insist they are politically neutral and they have not mentioned any candidates.
The couple’s video statement from the 2020 election which they filmed from the garden of their Montecito mansion and urged Americans to vote in the ‘most important election of our lifetime’. They denied they were not politically neutral, others disagreed
Trump said that he was ‘no fan’ of the Duchess and has said he will considerÂ
Trump faces Kamala Harris at the US presidential electionÂ
Experts have said that Harry will ‘fear’ a Trump victory because the Republican nominee has been clear that the British royal could be deported from the US if he lied about taking drugs on his American visa application.
But Greg Swenson believes that their latest political intervention will not influence Americans, but may ingratiate themselves with the ‘Hollywood woke elites’ they wish to impress.
‘Every move Harry and Meghan make is carefully orchestrated to keep them popular among their circle of elites. Most woke Hollywood elites are voting for Kamala – but I’m surprised they haven’t outright endorsed her’, he said.
‘The only thing left for her to do now is to run for office.
‘I don’t think they would move the needle – they are known as woke celebrities. I don’t think there is any mystery regarding their views that are consistent with the progressive left (Kamala). The voters who like Harry and Meghan would probably vote Kamala anyway. I don’t think they would change anyone’s vote’.
Investigative journalist and biographer of the couple, Tom Bower, told MailOnline it is another attempt to get ‘noticed’ – and a sign that Meghan’s political ambitions are not dead.
Ms Markle is said to have approached California Governor Gavin Newsom about whether he would support her replacing Democrat Senator Dianne Feinstein.
Mr Bower said: ‘Ambitious to be famous and influential, Meghan Markle yearns to belong to the American political establishment, especially the Democrat party.
‘Soon after returning to California in 2020, she approached California’s governor seeking an opportunity to secure nomination to a political post, not least as a candidate for Congress.
‘However, her endorsement of Biden against Trump in 2020 ended in disaster. Harry’s silly contribution to urge Americans to vote was ridiculed because he was a foreigner who was ignorant about American politics.
‘And Trump’s retaliation was fierce. If elected, he threatened to kick Harry out of America. Not surprisingly, the Sussexes are now more cautious. They can’t resist giving an opinion – and Meghan has not given up her political ambitions – but they rightly fear Trump’s election.
‘Their anodyne message that Americans should vote will be ignored across America but feeds their self-importance, and gets them noticed in Britain, an important marker for Harry’.
The statement has also not gone unnoticed with American academics in the UK.
Thomas Gift, Professor of Political Science at University College London, said unlike other stars, the Sussexes are trying not to be controversial after the row over their backing of Joe Biden.
He said: ‘Unlike Taylor Swift and many other high-profile celebrities, the Sussexes apparently don’t feel the need to alienate some of their fans by endorsing a candidate, or to provoke even more backlash from critics by doing so.
‘Urging Americans to vote is unobjectionable and unlikely to spark too many calls that they’re wading inappropriately into American politics’.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will stay publicly neutral in the upcoming US presidential election, it has been revealed – pictured here during the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games
The couple marked National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by getting the Archewell team to take part in a letter-writing activity.
Staff sent out letters to unregistered voters to encourage them to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
The statement read: ‘Voting is not just a right; it’s a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities.
‘At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one’s political party, is at the heart of a more just and equitable world.
‘By participating in initiatives like this, we aim to amplify the message that every voice matters.’
The Telegraph reported that the letters stopped short of endorsing a particular candidate but instead urged voters to simply use their voice.Â
The couple invited readers to ‘join us in this important effort’ and volunteer time to write letters to unregistered voters.
The couple marked National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by getting the Archewell team to take part in a letter-writing activity – the couple are pictured here in Bogata, ColumbiaÂ
The statement concluded: ‘Together, let’s make sure every eligible voter is informed and empowered to participate in shaping America’s future.’
It comes after the couple were accused of endorsing Joe Biden in the last US election, as they filmed a video statement from the garden of their Montecito mansion, which they had only just moved into at the time.
In the video address, Prince Harry told US voters to ‘reject hate speech’ while Meghan labelled the 2020 presidential race the ‘most election of our lifetime’.
The Duke said at the time: ‘This election I am not able to vote in the US. But many of you may not know that I haven’t been able to vote in the UK my entire life. As we approach this November, it’s vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.’Â
While Harry and Meghan did not name their favoured candidate, many viewers thought it ‘obvious’ they were backing Joe Biden over Donald Trump. As such, the Sussexes were accused of ‘violating’ the terms of their ‘Megxit’ deal.
In September 2020, Trump said that he was ‘no fan’ of the Duchess after the couple released their video. Â
In the aftermath, Republicans and other critics called on the Royal Family to strip the couple of their titles, calling the interference of the Duke and Duchess ‘inappropriate’.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said at the time: ‘We would not comment. The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.’
Unlike last year, the Sussex’s statement was this year released through the Archewell Foundation rather than via the couple’s private office.Â
Both the Duke and Duchess are expected to remain neutral ahead of the election on November 5, according to The Telegraph.Â
They will not make an official endorsement.
