US President Donald Trump publicly praised British soldiers, describing those who served in Afghanistan as “among the greatest of all warriors,” following a backlash over his remarks that suggested non-US NATO troops stayed away from the front lines during the war.
Trump’s initial comments, made during an interview in Davos, Switzerland, triggered strong reactions in the UK after he claimed that troops from NATO allies other than the United States had remained “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling,” saying they had caused deep hurt to the families of those killed or injured.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump struck a markedly different tone, praising the British military and highlighting the sacrifices made during the two-decade conflict.
“The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors,” Trump wrote.
He added that the bond between the two countries’ militaries was unbreakable, calling the UK armed forces “second to none (except for the USA!).”
“It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all, and always will!” he said.
The remarks came after Trump faced diplomatic criticism across Europe for downplaying NATO’s role in Afghanistan, where the alliance intervened following the September 11 attacks under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty — the first time the collective defence clause had been invoked.
Speaking earlier to Fox News in Davos, Trump had said the United States had “never needed” NATO and questioned whether the alliance would support Washington if called upon. “You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines,” he said.
Starmer’s office confirmed that the issue was raised directly with Trump, stressing the shared sacrifice of British and American forces.
“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,” the statement said. “We must never forget their sacrifice.”
Starmer later said that had he made such comments himself, “I would certainly apologise.”
Prince Harry also weighed in without naming Trump, saying the “sacrifices” of British soldiers during the war “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.”
Trump’s comments on NATO allies have been part of a broader pattern in recent days, as he escalated criticism of the alliance while renewing threats related to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
European leaders and politicians described Trump’s earlier remarks as “disgraceful,” “wrong,” and an “insult” to the contributions of NATO troops. UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch called them “flat-out nonsense.”
According to Sky News, Starmer is believed to have spoken with Trump shortly before the US president published his conciliatory Truth Social post.
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