(United States, 25th) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday (January 24) praised the “brave” British soldiers, calling them warriors. This comes a day after his remarks about NATO forces in Afghanistan were condemned by British Prime Minister Starmer as “insulting and shocking.”
Reuters reported that Trump previously claimed that European troops did not go to the front lines in Afghanistan, remarks that triggered widespread anger in the UK and across Europe.
The UK lost 457 soldiers in the Afghanistan war, marking the country’s deadliest overseas conflict since the 1950s. During the fiercest years of the war, Britain led coalition operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan’s largest and most violent region.
On his own social platform Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The great and brave soldiers of Britain will always stand with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 soldiers were killed and many more were seriously wounded—they are among the greatest warriors. This bond is unbreakable.”
On his own social platform Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The great and brave soldiers of Britain will always stand with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 soldiers were killed and many more were seriously wounded—they are among the greatest warriors. This bond is unbreakable.”
Trump’s initial remarks provoked a strong response from Starmer. His office issued a statement saying that he spoke with Trump about the matter on Saturday.
The statement said: “The Prime Minister mentioned the brave and fearless British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never made it home. We must never forget their sacrifice.”
Veterans in the UK and elsewhere also condemned Trump’s previous remarks on Fox’s ‘Mornings with Maria’ show. On the program, Trump said the U.S. “never needed” the transatlantic alliance and accused allies of “staying far from the front lines” in Afghanistan.
The statement said: “The Prime Minister mentioned the brave and fearless British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never made it home. We must never forget their sacrifice.”
Veterans in the UK and elsewhere also condemned Trump’s previous remarks on Fox’s ‘Mornings with Maria’ show. On the program, Trump said the U.S. “never needed” the transatlantic alliance and accused allies of “staying far from the front lines” in Afghanistan.