No Evidence of Meghan Markle Presidential Run
The Claim
Megan Markle is networking with senior Democrats over discussions of a U.S. presidential run.
News posted on
Emerging story
The Daily Mail first posted the story on March 13th, claiming to have insider information from a “senior Labour figure with strong links to Washington.” But the rumor of Markle’s potential run for president seems to have begun with a September 2020 Vanity Fair article, which claims to have spoken with a close friend of hers. “One of the reasons she was so keen not to give up her American citizenship was so she had the option to go into politics,” the source allegedly said. “I think if Meghan and Harry ever gave up their titles she would seriously consider running for president.” Rumors have continued to circulate this week on multiple online platforms.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found this claim to be not much more than a rumor. Neither Markle or her representatives have ever stated any intention towards a presidential run. Similar rumors have been circulating since 2020, but seem to have been reignited by Markle’s recent interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Markle and Prince Harry have indeed been active in U.S. politics. Before the U.S. elections in 2020, they made a statement to Americans encouraging them to vote. Markle also joined Gloria Steinem to make personal calls to voters. She’s addressed other political issues including racism and online misinformation. These forays into the political world caused conjecture among the media.
Markle seems to value her privacy, and she might not want to be placed in such an openly scrutinized role as the President of the United States. She has discussed her displeasure over her lack of privacy, stating that she wishes the media would maintain boundaries. She has even pursued legal action over paparazzi photos, and printing handwritten letters. She and Prince Harry recently signed a deal with Netflix, but not for a show about the couple. Instead, they intend to produce content which will include documentaries and children’s programming.
Markle is said to have political ambitions but has never publicly stated or made any move towards running for president. In a world where former reality show stars can successfully run for president and movie stars land governor spots, we cannot rule out the possibility that she may run for office in the future. But as of now, this claim is nothing more than hearsay.
