Trump Faces Backlash Over Controversial Comments on NATO Troops in Afghanistan

Tue Feb 03 2026 20:53:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Donald Trump's remarks about NATO troops in Afghanistan have sparked outrage in the UK, with politicians and military veterans condemning his comments as disrespectful and insulting to the sacrifices made by service personnel.

Former US President Donald Trump has ignited anger in the UK following remarks suggesting that NATO troops were not actively engaged on the front lines during the Afghanistan conflict. UK politicians, including Labour MP Emily Thornberry and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, expressed their outrage, describing Trump's comments as an insult to British soldiers who lost their lives in the war. This controversy highlights the strained perceptions of international military alliances and the sacrifices made by both British and NATO forces.

Donald Trump has sparked fresh outrage in the UK after stating that NATO troops stayed a little off the front lines during the war in Afghanistan.

Labour MP Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs committee, labeled the statement an absolute insult to the 457 British service personnel killed in the conflict. Similarly, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized Trump's comments, questioning how he could dare to undervalue their sacrifices.

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, remarked that it was sad to see our nation's sacrifice, and that of our NATO partners, held so cheaply. The UK was among many allies that joined the US in Afghanistan in 2001, following NATO's collective security clause invocation after the 9/11 terror attacks.

In a Fox News interview, Trump expressed skepticism over NATO's reliability, claiming: We've never needed them, while asserting that NATO troops had remained distant from combat. His comments triggered a backlash from UK military veterans and politicians.

Thornberry emphasized that the remarks were much more than a mistake and condemned Trump's framing, stating that the UK had always supported the US militarily. She criticized Trump as a man who has never seen any action while holding the position of commander in chief.

In the wake of the controversy, messages from other politicians reflected similar sentiments. Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP and former RAF officer who served in Afghanistan, refuted Trump's assertions, highlighting the shared beliefs that motivated military actions post-9/11.

The US invasion in October 2001 aimed to dislodge the Taliban, which had been harboring Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. The effort incurred significant casualties, with over 3,500 coalition troops, including many Britons, perishing by the time the US withdrew in 2021.

The British Ministry of Defence referenced comments made by Defense Secretary John Healey prior to the outcry, emphasizing the collaborative sacrifices shared by NATO allies in Afghanistan.