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US President Donald Trump on Saturday appeared to soften his stance on British soldiers, calling them “among the greatest of all warriors” after criticism over his earlier comments on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) role in Afghanistan.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said, “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. It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken.”
His earlier remarks, aired Thursday on Fox News, had suggested NATO troops “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” and cast doubt on whether the alliance would aid the US if called upon.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned those comments as “appalling,” while other European leaders expressed anger.
France also weighed in, with President Emmanuel Macron’s office stating on Saturday, “These unacceptable comments are not worthy of response. It is to the families of fallen soldiers that the Head of State wishes to offer comfort and reiterate the nation’s gratitude.”
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani wrote on X, “Let us honour the 53 Italian soldiers who fell during the mission in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius recalled the “heavy price” paid by German forces and noted that “many wounded are still suffering today from the physical and psychological consequences of that period.”
Trump’s comments come after previous transatlantic tensions, including his threatened seizure of Greenland, which he later dropped, and proposed tariffs on Europe.
