U.S. President Donald Trump issued a statement on Saturday through the social media platform Truth Social, expressing strong admiration for British troops who served in Afghanistan. This came after remarks made earlier in the week sparked significant backlash in the United Kingdom, particularly from relatives of those who lost their lives or were severely harmed during the conflict.
In his message, Trump reaffirmed the steadfast alliance between the United States and United Kingdom, stating that "the great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America." He honored the 457 British military personnel who died and the many others who sustained serious injuries, calling them "among the greatest of all warriors." Trump further underscored the unity between the two countries’ armed forces, describing their bond as "too strong to ever be broken." He complimented the UK’s commitment and spirit, declaring it to be "second to none (except for the USA)."
This public commendation followed a phone conversation between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. According to an official statement from Number 10 Downing Street, the leaders discussed a variety of issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and security concerns in the Arctic region. The statement highlighted Starmer’s emphasis on the valor and sacrifice of British and American soldiers who fought side-by-side in Afghanistan, many of whom did not return home. "We must never forget their sacrifice," it said.
The recent controversy arose after Trump’s interview with Fox Business Network on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland. During that interview, he expressed doubt about the commitment of the other 31 NATO member nations, suggesting they might not support the United States if called upon and implying their troops had been less engaged, staying "a little off the front lines."
Prime Minister Starmer had initially described these comments as "insulting and frankly appalling" and had called on Trump to issue an apology or retract his remarks. However, Trump has neither directly apologized nor withdrawn his earlier statements.
Trump’s remarks were at odds with the widely accepted historical account that following the September 11 attacks, the U.S. led an international coalition into Afghanistan in October 2001 to dismantle al-Qaida and its Taliban hosts. The coalition included forces from multiple countries, under NATO's mutual-defense agreement triggered for the first time. The UK contributed substantially, with more than 150,000 British troops serving in Afghanistan following the invasion, second only to the U.S. deployment.
In the wake of the criticism, both the Italian and French governments also expressed disapproval of Trump’s comments, labeling them as "unacceptable." This international response points to heightened sensitivities regarding the portrayal of allied forces' contributions in global conflicts.