BEFORE she married into the Royal Family and became the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle wasn’t one to shy away from politics.
The former Suits actress referred to President Donald Trump as “misogynistic” during a chat show appearance in 2016.
Since starting a new life in California with Prince Harry and baby Archie, the Duchess has repeatedly urged the US public to vote in the presidential election.
And during her multiple speaking engagements, Meghan has appeared to make veiled digs at the President – controversially referring to this election as “the most important presidential race in a lifetime”.
Yesterday it was revealed Meghan had made history as the first member of the Royal Family to vote as the Duchess reportedly “couldn’t wait” to have her say and “casted an early mail ballot”.
As the world eagerly awaits the results of the US presidential election, Fabulous Digital takes a look back at everything Meghan has said about Donald Trump.
‘Most important election of our lifetime’
In September, Meghan controversially called presidential election “the most important of our life” in a Time 100 video special filmed in the garden of her and Harry’s £11m Montecito home.
The Duchess said: “Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is.
“When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard.”
Meanwhile, Harry urged voters to “reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity” which social media users saw as an attack on Donald Trump.
Donald Trump then hit back at Meghan Markle for suggesting Americans should vote for Joe Biden by saying he is “not a fan of hers” and wishing “a lot of luck” to her husband Prince Harry.
Rallying cry to female voters
Appearing on Michelle Obama’s When All Women Vote panel in August, Meghan told voters: “We all know what’s at stake.”
Speaking from her new £11million Montecito mansion, the 39-year-old said it was an honour to kick-off “my friend” Michelle’s virtual “couch party” on women and voting.
She said: “We vote to honour those who came before us and to protect those that come after us…that’s what community is all about and that’s specifically what this election is all about.
“We all know what’s at stake this year. I know it, I think all of you certainly know it if you are here at this fun event with us.
“You’re just as mobilised and energised to see the change we all need and deserve. This fight is worth fighting and we all need to be out there mobilising to have our voices heard.”
What’s more, Meghan told female voters: “If you are complacent, you are complicit.”
When We All Vote was set up by the former First Lady to encourage higher turn-outs at elections and is intended to be politically neutral.
Mark her words
In August, Meghan took another a veiled shot at President Donald Trump “over scary and intimidating voter suppression tactics” during chat with political activist Gloria Steinem.
In a black and white clip released on social media, the Duchess of Sussex, expressed admiration for Gloria’s work in fighting for gender equality before they discussed the importance of voting.
Accusing Trump of “voter suppression”, Meghan said: “And then you think: ‘You know, it’s not worth it.’ You decide to step out of line and relinquish your right to vote,” Meghan said.
“That’s bad enough, but then there’s a ripple effect because whoever is in the back of the line says, ‘Whatever they did to them…I don’t want that to happen to me.’
“That, I think, is so frightening. But I wonder how we circumvent that and how we get people to feel empowered.”
First Public Swipe
Speaking on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, Meghan Markle called the US President “divisive” and “misogynistic” during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Meghan Markle, who pledged to vote for his rival Hillary Clinton, said: “Of course Trump is divisive – think about female voters alone.
“I think it was in 2012, the Republican Party lost the female vote by 12 points.
“That’s a huge number and as misogynistic as Trump is, and so vocal about it, that’s a huge chunk of it.”
When reminded of Meghan’s comments by HOAR last year, Trump insisted it was the first he’d heard of them.
Speaking from the Oval office, he told Tom Newton Dunn: “I didn’t know that. What can I say? I didn’t know that she was nasty.”
Trump also predicted Meghan will make “a very good” American princess.
No Deal
Meghan Markle is said to have given Trump a “wide berth” when he appeared on the set of Deal Or No Deal while she was working as a briefcase girl on the programme.
Writing in Meghan: A Hollywood Princess, Andrew Morton spoke about Trump’s appearance in the studio, when he was promoting his reality show The Apprentice.
He said: “One guest caused quite the frisson: Donald Trump, then making a guest appearance to cross-promote The Apprentice.
“He gave girls his card and invited them to play golf at one of his courses. Meghan was one of the girls who gave him a wide berth’.”
Admiration for Ivanka
However, Meghan has previously praised Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
Writing on her now defunct blog The Tig, the Duchess of Sussex praised her business acumen and said she was unfairly judged because of her background.
She wrote: “She’s not just carved a niche for herself under her father’s famed Trump notoriety, she has undoubtedly created her own empire.
“It’s so easy to knock the girls who come from privilege – to assume they rested on their laurels and garnered accolades simply by being fancy from the womb.”
In more Royal Family news, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry told Ashley Banjo he could ‘lean on us’ in hour-long phone call over BGT row.
And Meghan Markle & Prince Harry angered William by ‘deliberately misleading’ public about Archie’s birth, an expert has claimed.
Plus Kate Middleton had a “back up plan” in case Prince William dumped her to make sure she didn’t look “needy”, an expert has claimed.
