Donald Trump has triggered a wave of anger in the UK after claiming that Nato troops stayed away from the front lines during the war in Afghanistan, a remark that many British politicians, veterans, and grieving families have described as deeply offensive and untrue.
Speaking during a television interview, the former US president suggested that America’s allies only played a limited role in the conflict and questioned whether Nato would come to the US’s defence if it were ever under threat. His comments have been widely criticised for dismissing the sacrifices made by allied forces, particularly British troops.
UK government minister Stephen Kinnock said he was disappointed by the remarks, stressing that they bore no resemblance to reality. He said British soldiers had repeatedly put their lives on the line alongside US forces and deserved respect, not dismissal.
The comments also struck a painful chord with families who lost loved ones or whose relatives were permanently injured in the conflict. The mother of Ben Parkinson, a British soldier who was severely wounded in Afghanistan, described Trump’s words as insulting and upsetting. She said the suggestion that allied troops were not on the front line ignored the real dangers they faced daily, including roadside bombs and direct combat with Taliban fighters.
Another grieving mother, whose teenage son was killed by a bomb blast while serving in Afghanistan, said Trump’s remarks reopened wounds that families continue to live with years after the war. She emphasised that British troops were very much on the front line and paid the ultimate price for their service.
The UK joined the US-led war in Afghanistan in 2001 after the September 11 attacks, following the activation of Nato’s collective defence agreement. Over the 20-year conflict, 457 British service personnel were killed, making the UK the second-most affected country after the United States.
Political leaders across party lines have condemned Trump’s comments. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described them as outright nonsense, saying British, Canadian, and other Nato troops fought and died alongside American forces for two decades. Several MPs who served in Afghanistan themselves echoed this view, calling the remarks disrespectful to fallen soldiers and their families.
Labour MP Emily Thornberry said the comments were more than a simple mistake and amounted to an insult to those who lost their lives. She added that the UK had consistently stood by the US when called upon and accused Trump of undermining both Britain and the Nato alliance.
Senior figures from other political parties also weighed in, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey questioning how anyone could dismiss the sacrifices made by allied troops. Former military officers now serving in Parliament said Trump’s claims did not reflect the reality experienced on the ground.
Criticism was not limited to the UK. European officials also rejected Trump’s statements, pointing out that European forces shed blood in Afghanistan in direct support of US operations. They warned that repeating such claims distorted history and disrespected the shared sacrifices made by Nato members.
Despite the backlash, Trump has continued to question Nato’s value, reigniting long-standing concerns among allies about the future of the alliance and the tone of US leadership.
The war in Afghanistan began in 2001 with the goal of removing the Taliban and dismantling al-Qaeda following the 9/11 attacks. When international forces withdrew in 2021, more than 3,500 coalition soldiers had been killed, the majority of them American, with Britain suffering the second-highest number of fatalities.
For many in the UK, Trump’s comments have reopened painful memories and reinforced the belief that the sacrifices made by British troops should never be questioned or forgotten.