Trump denies calling Meghan Markle 'nasty.' Here's Trump calling Meghan Markle 'nasty.'

(Image credit: Michael Bradley/AFP/Getty Images)

In an interview with British newspaper The Sun before leaving for his state visit to Britain, President Trump said of American-born British royal Meghan Markle, "I didn't know that she was nasty." Britain took that as Trump calling their newest duchess "nasty," but Trump called that "fake news" on Sunday, tweeting a denial that, for some reason, blamed CNN and The New York Times for reporting his remark.

In any case, The Sun recorded their conversation with Trump, and there is tape of Trump's comment.

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So who are you going to believe, Trump or a tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.? In any case, the Duchess of Sussex will not be among the royals who dine with Trump at Buckingham Palace on Monday or lunch with him on Tuesday — she will be spending maternity leave with her three-week-old son, Archie. "I didn't know that," Trump told The Sun. "I hope she is okay." He added later that as a royal, "I am sure she will do excellently."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.