LONDON, Jan 24 - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday offered high praise for British service members, calling them "very brave" and "among the greatest of all warriors," after his earlier remarks about NATO troops in Afghanistan prompted strong criticism in Britain and across Europe.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: "The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!" He added: "In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken."
The president's supportive message followed backlash to comments he made in an interview on Fox Business Network's "Mornings with Maria," in which he said the United States had "never needed" the transatlantic alliance and accused some allies of staying "a little off the front lines" in Afghanistan. Those earlier remarks provoked widespread anger in Britain and across Europe.
Britain suffered 457 service personnel killed in Afghanistan, making it its deadliest overseas war since the 1950s. During several of the conflict's most intense years, British forces led the allied campaign in Helmand, Afghanistan's largest and most violent province, and served as the principal U.S. battlefield ally in Iraq.
The comments drew an unusually strong reaction from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has generally tended to avoid direct public criticism of Trump. The prime minister's office said Starmer had spoken to the president on Saturday about the matter. The office released a statement saying: "The prime minister raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home. We must never forget their sacrifice, he said."
Veterans in Britain and elsewhere were quick to condemn the remarks attributed to the president. Among those speaking out was Prince Harry, King Charles' younger son and a veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan. In a statement he said: "Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect." Other former service members and veterans' groups also lined up to criticize the president's earlier characterisation of allied troop roles.
The exchange highlights tensions created by the initial comments and underscores the sensitivity surrounding the memory of those who served and died in Afghanistan. The president's subsequent tribute to British soldiers emphasized shared sacrifice and a continuing bond between the two countries' armed forces.
Context and developments to watch
- Public reaction in the UK and Europe to the president's remarks has been strong, with statements from political leaders and military veterans.
- Diplomatic communications included a phone conversation between the British prime minister and the U.S. president, followed by an official statement from the prime minister's office.
- Prominent individuals with military service, such as Prince Harry, publicly demanded respectful and truthful acknowledgement of the sacrifices made in Afghanistan.