Donald Trump's comments on Nato troops in Afghanistan have sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from leaders across the globe. The US president's remarks, which he made during a visit to Davos, were described as "insulting" by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who joined other leaders in expressing disgust and anger at Trump's comments.
The backlash came after Trump questioned whether Nato allies had done enough to support the US in Afghanistan. He claimed that some Nato troops had stayed "a little off the frontlines," which was seen as a slap in the face to the many soldiers who fought bravely alongside US troops in the war-torn country.
Moncur, a Canadian soldier who suffered severe injuries during a friendly fire incident in 2006, has been vocal about his anger at Trump's comments. He lost nearly 5% of his brain in the attack and had to relearn how to walk, talk, read, and write after being thrown from an A-10 Warthog plane.
"It was insulting," Moncur said. "Nobody named Trump was on the frontline with me. And his sons were nowhere to be seen in the Afghan desert." Moncur accused Trump of displaying "deep disrespect" towards veterans who had served alongside US troops.
Trump's comments also sparked outrage from other Nato allies, including Poland and the UK. Paweł Mateńczuk, a Polish special forces veteran, said that while president Trump was often banging on about gratitude or someone thanking him for something, veterans were not looking for that, because they "felt that gratitude first-hand, serving alongside American troops."
"Their own service and sacrifice is diminished by what Trump has said," added Mateńczuk. He also called for an apology from Trump to the families of veterans who had lost their lives in Afghanistan.
In the UK, Richard Streatfield, a former army major who served in Sangin between 2009 and 2010, described Trump's comments as "deeply insulting." He said that his American comrades would be "ashamed" of Trump's remarks, and added that the US needed Nato allies like Britain to defend against terrorist threats.
Trump's comments have also sparked outrage from ordinary citizens. In Poland, where nearly 33,000 troops were deployed to Afghanistan over 19 years, and 44 were killed in action, many are calling for Trump to apologize for his remarks.
The US president's campaign continued unabated after his Fox News interview, with him posting on Truth Social: "Maybe we should have put Nato to the test: Invoked Article 5, and forced Nato to come here and protect our Southern Border from further Invasions of Illegal Immigrants, thus freeing up large numbers of Border Patrol Agents for other tasks."
Moncur summed up Trump's comments as "the pain that he has caused, and is causing, is immeasurable and it is shameful." He added: "To see how American treat their friends now – who needs enemies?"
The backlash came after Trump questioned whether Nato allies had done enough to support the US in Afghanistan. He claimed that some Nato troops had stayed "a little off the frontlines," which was seen as a slap in the face to the many soldiers who fought bravely alongside US troops in the war-torn country.
Moncur, a Canadian soldier who suffered severe injuries during a friendly fire incident in 2006, has been vocal about his anger at Trump's comments. He lost nearly 5% of his brain in the attack and had to relearn how to walk, talk, read, and write after being thrown from an A-10 Warthog plane.
"It was insulting," Moncur said. "Nobody named Trump was on the frontline with me. And his sons were nowhere to be seen in the Afghan desert." Moncur accused Trump of displaying "deep disrespect" towards veterans who had served alongside US troops.
Trump's comments also sparked outrage from other Nato allies, including Poland and the UK. Paweł Mateńczuk, a Polish special forces veteran, said that while president Trump was often banging on about gratitude or someone thanking him for something, veterans were not looking for that, because they "felt that gratitude first-hand, serving alongside American troops."
"Their own service and sacrifice is diminished by what Trump has said," added Mateńczuk. He also called for an apology from Trump to the families of veterans who had lost their lives in Afghanistan.
In the UK, Richard Streatfield, a former army major who served in Sangin between 2009 and 2010, described Trump's comments as "deeply insulting." He said that his American comrades would be "ashamed" of Trump's remarks, and added that the US needed Nato allies like Britain to defend against terrorist threats.
Trump's comments have also sparked outrage from ordinary citizens. In Poland, where nearly 33,000 troops were deployed to Afghanistan over 19 years, and 44 were killed in action, many are calling for Trump to apologize for his remarks.
The US president's campaign continued unabated after his Fox News interview, with him posting on Truth Social: "Maybe we should have put Nato to the test: Invoked Article 5, and forced Nato to come here and protect our Southern Border from further Invasions of Illegal Immigrants, thus freeing up large numbers of Border Patrol Agents for other tasks."
Moncur summed up Trump's comments as "the pain that he has caused, and is causing, is immeasurable and it is shameful." He added: "To see how American treat their friends now – who needs enemies?"