Donald Trump has paid tribute to the “very brave” British soldiers who served in Afghanistan – after fierce criticism of his false claim that non-US troops had stayed back from the frontline.
On Truth Social, he said Britons “were among the greatest of all warriors” as he acknowledged the 457 who died and many who were “badly injured”.
He wrote: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!”
“It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken,” the US president added. “The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the U.S.A.!). We love you all, and always will!”
President Trump’s post comes after comments to Fox News in which he falsely claimed NATO troops in Afghanistan had “stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines”.
A clearly angered Sir Keir Starmer had called the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling”, while Prince Harry also defended the record of UK troops in the country.
It’s understood the prime minister spoke to Mr Trump shortly before the US president’s TruthSocial post on Saturday.
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