President Trump praised British troops on Truth Social after facing criticism for comments that appeared to downplay NATO’s role in Afghanistan. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince Harry publicly rebuked the remarks, and Starmer raised the matter in a phone call with Trump. The White House initially defended the president, while leaders from Italy to Denmark and veterans expressed dismay. The exchange occurred amid broader tensions over Greenland and talks about Arctic security.
Trump Praises British Troops After Outrage Over Remarks That Downplayed NATO’s Role in Afghanistan
Mourners react as the bodies of seven British soldiers and Marines killed in Afghanistan pass along the High Street in Wootton Bassett, England, on June 29, 2010. - Matt Cardy/Getty Images/File
President Donald Trump publicly lauded British soldiers on Saturday after drawing sustained criticism for comments earlier in the week that appeared to minimize the sacrifices of NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Writing on his platform Truth Social, Trump praised the United Kingdom military, calling British troops "GREAT and very BRAVE" and saying their bond with the United States is "too strong to ever be broken." In his post he added:
“In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen in Chequers, in Buckinghamshire, Britain, on January 22. - Stefan Rousseau/Pool/Reuters
The message followed fierce backlash to remarks the president made in a Thursday interview in which he questioned NATO’s usefulness and suggested some allied troops stayed "a little back, little off the front lines." The comments rankled U.S. partners after a tense week of diplomacy that included Mr. Trump’s public threats about Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
Responses From Allies And Veterans
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince Harry—who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan—were among those who criticized the president. Starmer described the remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling” and raised the issue directly during a Saturday call with Mr. Trump. According to Downing Street, the leaders discussed "the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home," and also spoke about Arctic security.
President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One after leaving the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22. - Evan Vucci/AP
The White House initially defended the president’s comments. Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, said the United States had done more for NATO than any other country in the alliance. Still, leaders and veterans across Europe voiced dismay: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called statements that minimize NATO contributions "unacceptable," and Danish veterans—who fought alongside U.S. forces—expressed a sense of betrayal after Mr. Trump’s comments and his earlier remarks about Greenland.
Context
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United States was the first and so far only NATO member to invoke Article 5, which treats an attack on one ally as an attack on all. For roughly two decades, NATO allies and partner nations contributed troops and resources alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
While Mr. Trump’s Truth Social post singled out British troops for praise, it did not acknowledge the wider contributions or losses of other NATO countries over the course of the conflict.
Reporting note: Antonia Mortensen contributed to this report.
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