Donald Trump’s climbdown over his claim that UK troops avoided the frontline in Afghanistan has been met with cross-party relief in Westminster, despite his failure to apologise for remarks widely condemned as offensive and false.
In a rare clarification on Truth Social, the US president praised British troops as being “among the greatest of all warriors” and acknowledged that 457 had died in Afghanistan. He wrote: “The UK military, with tremendous heart and soul, is second to none (except for the USA). We love you all, and always will!”
The post came two days after he told Fox News that the US had “never needed” its allies in Afghanistan and that Nato troops had “stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines”. Trump stopped short of apologising, and did not clarify his comments about other Nato forces.
Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said the clarification was “as good as it gets” with Trump, adding: “I think it’s a recognition that what was said initially was deeply offensive.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier condemned the remarks as “insulting and frankly appalling”. The president’s retreat is reported to have followed King Charles relaying his concerns through diplomatic channels.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey told the BBC he was “relieved” Trump had backed down, and expressed gratitude to the king for his intervention. Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said she believed Trump was “genuinely sorry”, while Reform UK’s Richard Tice welcomed the clarification. However, Republicans Overseas UK chair Greg Swenson noted it was not in Trump’s nature to apologise, and described the initial remarks as “a huge mistake”.
