Yesterday, we reported that Meghan Markle was using her royal title to lobby Republican Senators for paid parental leave. Now, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MI) is criticizing her move by saying that it is incredibly inappropriate for Meghan Markle to use her royal title in this way.
Backstory: Report: Meghan Markle Uses Her Royal Title To Lobby Republican Senators By Cold Calling Them
GOP Rep. Jason Smith Lays Into Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle may have forsaken the British Royal Family, but that did not stop her from using their name to attempt to influence American politics. The British Royal Family must remove all titles of nobility from Harry and Meghan at once. https://t.co/onRe2UNM5w
— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) October 22, 2021
“If she wants to be a royal, she needs to be a royal – she can’t have it both ways,” Smith told TMZ.
“I think it’s great for a U.S. citizen or for a former movie star of Suits to be lobbying U.S. senators,” he added. “But when you lobby U.S. senators, as Meghan Markle has done, as: ‘I’m Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex’ – she’s lobbying Congress and interfering from a position of using her royal title.”
Smith then pointed out that Meghan and her husband Prince Harry left the Royal Family last year.
The Congressman suggests that rather than introducing herself as “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” when calling lawmakers, she should say: “I’m Meghan Markle, the former star of ‘Suits.'”
Related: Meghan Markle Gets Political: Personally Lobbies Nancy Pelosi For Parental Leave
Congressman Jason Smith Doubles Down
“Clearly if you look at the royal family, they have a long standing policy of being neutral in U.S. politics,” the Republican politician said. “And her and Harry left the royal family. She did renounce her royal membership in the family.”
Smith later said that he would “welcome” Meghan Markle calling him so that he could explain to her why he feels that her ideas for paid parental leave will not work.
“I would love her to call me, and we could talk about it – like, Meghan, this bill does not help the families that go to eat at the Sizzler,” Smith concluded. “I would just say, most of America is Team Kate anyhow. I know that I am.”
This, of course, was a reference to Meghan’s sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who is married to Harry’s older brother Prince William.
Meghan Markle Invited To Senators Dinner
Daily Mail reported that Meghan has been invited to attend a bipartisan dinner with all 21 female US senators. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) invited her to the dinner which is set to take place next month.
“I could hear how sincere she was about advocacy,” Gillibrand said as she defended the invite.
Smith, however, was not having any of it.
“Ms. Markle’s latest interference in U.S. politics reignites the question in my mind as to why the Royal Family does not simply strip her and Harry officially of their titles, particularly since she insists on sending this under the pretense of being the Duchess of Sussex,” he said in a blistering statement.
This all lends even more credence to the rumors that Meghan Markle is intent on launching a political career.
She’s made her liberal leaning clear and continues to insert herself into U.S. politics. It remains to be seen whether the crown will let this play out.
More on Meghan Markle’s political activism:
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