Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued an unprecedented rebuke to US President Donald Trump for his “insulting and frankly appalling” remarks about British troops in Afghanistan, suggesting he should apologise. Starmer said he was not surprised that relatives of British soldiers killed in the conflict were hurt by Trump’s claim that Nato troops avoided the frontlines.
Speaking on Friday, Starmer paid tribute to the 457 British service personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan, saying: “I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice that they made for their country.” He added: “I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling, and I’m not surprised they caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.”
When asked if he would call for an apology from the president, Starmer said: “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologise.” However, he stressed the importance of the “very close” relationship with the US for Britain’s security, noting that British and American forces fought together for their values in Afghanistan.
Trump’s suggestion in a Fox News interview on Thursday that Nato troops had stayed “a little off the frontlines” in Afghanistan prompted widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Trump of “denigrating” British troops, calling his comments “flat-out nonsense”. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also disagreed, stating: “Donald Trump is wrong. For 20 years our armed forces fought bravely alongside America’s in Afghanistan.”
The Liberal Democrats urged Starmer to summon the US ambassador over the remarks, with leader Ed Davey accusing Trump of avoiding military service himself. The defence secretary, John Healey, said the UK and Nato allies had “answered the US call” and that the war dead should be remembered as heroes.
Starmer’s critical intervention marks an escalation of tensions with the Trump administration, coming after the president earlier criticised the UK for giving up the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Despite the diplomatic rift, No 10 has not called Trump and is not considering admonishing the US ambassador.
