Overview
- In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump called British soldiers "among the greatest of all warriors" and acknowledged 457 UK deaths in Afghanistan.
- Downing Street said Starmer spoke with Trump on Saturday and raised the sacrifices of British and American forces who fought side by side in Afghanistan.
- Trump’s message did not include an apology for earlier comments suggesting non-US NATO troops stayed off the front lines during the war.
- Veterans, Prince Harry and European leaders including those of Italy, Poland and France criticized Trump’s initial characterization of allied contributions.
- The White House initially defended Trump’s remarks, while separate reports claimed King Charles relayed concern to the White House, a claim Buckingham Palace declined to confirm.