US President Donald Trump appears to have walked back comments earlier this week that sparked widespread criticism, stating that British soldiers who fought alongside Nato troops in Afghanistan were among the "greatest of all warriors". The remarks came after Trump claimed that some Nato allies "stayed a little off the frontlines" during their time in Afghanistan.
However, in a post on social media on Saturday, Trump seemed to soften his stance. He praised UK soldiers who lost 457 lives and many more were injured during their service in Afghanistan, calling it a "bond too strong to ever be broken". The US president also expressed support for the UK military, stating that they are "second to none" - with the exception of the USA.
The remarks appear to have been prompted by criticism from Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, who had previously raised concerns about Trump's comments. In a conversation on Saturday, No 10 said that Starmer discussed the bravery and sacrifice of British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan. The discussion also touched on the need for progress towards a sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine.
Trump's previous remarks had sparked criticism from politicians across Europe, with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defending the memory of Italian soldiers killed and wounded during Nato operations in Afghanistan. Meloni stated that Trump's comments were "unacceptable", highlighting the significant cost that Italy paid during the nearly 20-year conflict, including the loss of 53 soldiers.
In a statement on social media, Meloni acknowledged the strong ties between Italy and the US but emphasized the importance of respect for allies. The remarks from Trump have raised questions about his relationship with other Nato leaders and whether he is willing to take criticism from Western partners.
However, in a post on social media on Saturday, Trump seemed to soften his stance. He praised UK soldiers who lost 457 lives and many more were injured during their service in Afghanistan, calling it a "bond too strong to ever be broken". The US president also expressed support for the UK military, stating that they are "second to none" - with the exception of the USA.
The remarks appear to have been prompted by criticism from Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, who had previously raised concerns about Trump's comments. In a conversation on Saturday, No 10 said that Starmer discussed the bravery and sacrifice of British and American soldiers who fought side by side in Afghanistan. The discussion also touched on the need for progress towards a sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine.
Trump's previous remarks had sparked criticism from politicians across Europe, with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defending the memory of Italian soldiers killed and wounded during Nato operations in Afghanistan. Meloni stated that Trump's comments were "unacceptable", highlighting the significant cost that Italy paid during the nearly 20-year conflict, including the loss of 53 soldiers.
In a statement on social media, Meloni acknowledged the strong ties between Italy and the US but emphasized the importance of respect for allies. The remarks from Trump have raised questions about his relationship with other Nato leaders and whether he is willing to take criticism from Western partners.
this whole thing got me thinking... how can one person make a comment, get slammed, then turn around and try to fix it? seems like diplomacy 101 but I guess not when you're a global leader 
. Trump's words might've been thoughtless, but his actions now seem genuine, almost heartfelt 
. what does this say about the kind of relationship we need between leaders and nations? 
I'm low-key relieved that Trump walked back those comments!!! Like, dude, you don't wanna mess with the UK military fam 
457 lives lost? That's not something to joke about, bruh 
I'm glad Keir Starmer spoke up and reminded everyone of the bravery & sacrifice of our soldiers in Afghanistan 
. And, tbh, Trump's comments were straight fire 
... at Nato allies who didn't do enough, duh 
. Now he's giving some major respect to the UK military? 
That's more like it! No need for drama or controversy, fam 
so trump's comments were kinda weird to begin with, but I guess walking back a bit makes him look less like a total...whatever 
. all this backpedaling just feels like an exercise in damage control, you know? it's like he's trying to smooth over the rough edges of his ego instead of actually listening to the concerns of others 
. and btw, 457 lives lost is no joke - can't say I'd want to be friends with someone who underestimates that kinda sacrifice 
.
. I was following this drama on Twitter yesterday, thought it was gonna be a mess. Starmer called Trump out for his comments and now he's walking back. Wonder if Italy's Meloni had anything to do with it 
.
. Wouldn't that be nice?