Trump Praises British Troops After Backlash Over Afghanistan Remarks

LONDON (JN) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday publicly praised British troops who fought alongside American forces in Afghanistan, following a wave of criticism in the United Kingdom over comments he made earlier in the week that were widely seen as disparaging to allied militaries.

The remarks, posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform after a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marked a partial reversal in tone but stopped short of a direct apology. They came after days of political and public reaction in Britain, particularly from families of service members killed or injured during the two-decade conflict.

Trump wrote that the “great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America,” describing British personnel who served in Afghanistan as “among the greatest of all warriors.” He said the bond between the two countries’ armed forces was “too strong to ever be broken,” adding that the United Kingdom was “second to none (except for the USA).”

Fallout from Davos interview

The social media post followed comments Trump made on Thursday during an interview with Fox Business Network at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In that interview, he questioned whether the United States could rely on support from its NATO allies in a future conflict and suggested that troops from other member states had remained “a little off the front lines.”

Those remarks prompted immediate criticism in Britain. Starmer said on Friday that the comments were “insulting and frankly appalling,” reflecting what his office described as deep concern over how the sacrifices of British service members had been characterized.

Trump did not retract his Davos comments or issue a formal apology. However, Downing Street said the issue was raised directly during Saturday’s call between the two leaders, alongside discussions on the war in Ukraine and security in the Arctic region.

“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,” a Downing Street statement said. “We must never forget their sacrifice.”

Afghanistan and allied forces

Trump’s earlier remarks contrasted sharply with the historical record of the Afghanistan war. After the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, NATO invoked its collective defense clause for the first time in its history. The United States then led a multinational coalition aimed at dismantling al-Qaida and removing its Taliban hosts.

British forces were among the largest contributors to that effort. More than 150,000 British troops served in Afghanistan over the course of the conflict, making the United Kingdom the largest military contributor after the United States. A total of 457 British service members were killed, with many more seriously injured.

Troops from dozens of other countries also took part in combat and support roles, often operating in joint units with U.S. forces. Allied casualties were sustained throughout the campaign, particularly during periods of intense fighting in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

Wider European reaction

The controversy extended beyond the United Kingdom. Officials in Italy and France also expressed disapproval of Trump’s Davos comments on Saturday, with both governments describing them as unacceptable. Their statements underscored broader sensitivities in Europe about alliance solidarity and the historical role of NATO partners in U.S.-led operations.

While Trump’s praise of British troops appeared aimed at easing immediate tensions with London, his comments left unresolved questions about how his views on NATO burden-sharing and alliance commitments may shape relations with European partners going forward.

For now, British officials have emphasized the importance of honoring shared military history and maintaining close defense ties with Washington, even as political differences surface at the leadership level.