Donald Trump has backtracked on his controversial claim that British troops avoided front-line duty in Afghanistan after King Charles expressed his concerns, according to reports. The US President had earlier suggested UK service personnel 'stayed a little back, a little off the front lines', sparking widespread outrage.
In a statement on social media, Trump praised British soldiers, saying: '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.' He added that the UK military is 'second to none (except for the U.S.A.!)'.
A source told The Sun that Trump was informed of the monarch's unease before he reversed his position. 'It was made very clear that the King’s concern over the hurt had been caused by the comments whether inadvertent or not,' the source said. King Charles, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, had aired his concerns over Trump's words.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had branded the remarks 'insulting and frankly appalling', and faced pressure to cancel King Charles's planned state visit to the US in April. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said she was 'pleased' the president had acknowledged the role of British forces, but added: 'It should never have been questioned in the first place.'
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP called Trump's comments 'a disgrace', while Conservative MP Simon Hoare questioned whether the state visit could go ahead given Trump's actions, including attempts to annex Canada and undermine NATO. Former BBC newsreader Simon McCoy has also set up a petition on the matter.
