UK politicians welcome Trump’s retreat over British troops’ role in Afghanistan | Military
Donald Trump’s escalation over claims that UK troops were avoiding the front line in Afghanistan was met with cross-party relief in Westminster, despite him not apologizing for remarks widely condemned as offensive and wrong.
One rare statementThe US president praised British troops as “the greatest of all warriors” and acknowledged 457 deaths in Afghanistan.
“With tremendous heart and soul, the UK military is second to none (excluding the US). We love you all and always will!” he wrote on Truth Social on Saturday.
His post came two days after he told Fox News that the United States “never needed” its allies in Afghanistan and that NATO troops were “staying a little bit behind, a little bit away from the front lines.”
But Trump declined to apologize for his remarks and did not clarify his comments about the role of other NATO troops in Afghanistan.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood said the statement was “as good as it gets” for Trump. “I think there is recognition that what was said initially was extremely offensive,” he told Sky News.
Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s initial comments as “insulting and frankly appalling”. Reportedly following the president’s climb King Charles expressed concerns via diplomatic channels about the Fox interview.
When asked whether Trump’s statement meant an apology, Mahmood said: “The President is doing what he wants.
“When they received a call to discuss issues related to Ukraine and other international issues, the prime minister expressed directly to the president how we felt about the initial comments, and I think this was a response to that.
“I suspect that’s as good as it gets as far as the president is concerned.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said on the BBC’s program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: “It was quite appalling that Donald Trump would make these comments, so I’m relieved he’s backed down and I’m grateful to the king for his intervention.
“But that doesn’t change my view on Donald Trump, and it doesn’t change my view that this government’s approach to Donald Trump is not right.”
Asked if she believed the US president was genuinely upset, Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “I think so. I think he clearly accepts that what he said was wrong, there’s no doubt about that, but you know, that’s what he said.”
“And the truth is, I think there’s a broader message here that he needs to think carefully about making such brazen statements in the future. It was completely wrong and appalling.”
Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform England, Republished Trump’s statement On X he adds: “It’s important to set the record straight.”
Greg Swenson, the Republican Overseas UK chairman, told the BBC it was not in Trump’s nature to apologize.
“I was surprised and quite relieved that he even did that,” he said. “It’s very unfiltered; it’s quite refreshing, until it’s unfiltered. That was a huge mistake. I’m not advocating that at all. I think the statement is good news.”
Addressing Trump on XWilliam Spencer, the National Archives’ chief military expert, said: “There has been progress but no apology! If you had sought advice before your first statement you perhaps would not have gotten to this point. However, I think you are too ignorant and arrogant to think things through!”
