Donald Trump has paid tribute to the “very brave” British soldiers who served in Afghanistan after fierce criticism of his claim non-US troops had stayed back from the frontline.
He said Britons “were among the greatest of all warriors” as he acknowledged the 457 who died and many who were “badly injured”.
He wrote on Truth Social: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!”
“It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken,” the US president added.
“The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the U.S.A.!). We love you all, and always will!”
President Trump‘s post comes after he falsely claimed NATO troops in Afghanistan had “stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines”.
Sir Keir Starmer had called the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling”, while Prince Harry also defended the bravery of UK troops.
The prince – who served twice in Afghanistan – said British “sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect”.
Downing Street said Sir Keir had spoken to Mr Trump shortly before the president’s social media post on Saturday.
“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,” said a statement.
Mr Trump made his original comments to Fox News at the World Economic Forum earlier this week, as he questioned if NATO would “be there if we ever needed them”.
“We’ve never needed them,” the US president said.
“They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines.”
Read more:
UK troops in Afghanistan from start to finish – despite what Trump says
Criticism from UK veterans, their families, and politicians was swift and severe.
Al Carns, the armed forces minister, who was with the Royal Marines in Afghanistan, called the claims “utterly ridiculous”.
Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served there with the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, said it was “sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply by the president of the United States”.
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson suffered horrific injuries in Afghanistan, called the comments “the ultimate insult” and urged the prime minister to stand up to Mr Trump.
The president’s U-turn has been welcomed by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.
“I’m pleased President Trump has now acknowledged the role of the British armed forces and those brave men and women who gave their lives fighting alongside the US and our allies,” she wrote on X.
“It should never have been questioned in the first place.”
At 457, the UK had the second-highest number of military deaths in Afghanistan during the near 20-year campaign. The US suffered 2,461 deaths.
The American-led invasion came shortly after 9/11 as it invoked NATO’s Article 5 clause – that an attack against one member is an attack on all.
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