British PM calls Afghanistan remarks “insulting and appalling,” hints at apology
January 24, 2026: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered a rare public rebuke of US President Donald Trump over comments suggesting British forces avoided frontline combat in Afghanistan, calling the remarks “insulting and frankly appalling.” Starmer said he was not surprised that families of fallen soldiers were deeply hurt, adding that an apology would be appropriate if such words had been misspoken. His intervention comes amid a week of mounting strain between London and Washington.
The criticism follows Trump’s remarks in a Fox News interview and at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he claimed Nato forces had stayed “a little off the frontlines” during the Afghanistan war. The comments sparked widespread outrage across the UK, with veterans’ groups and bereaved families expressing anger. Starmer paid tribute to the 457 British service members who lost their lives in the conflict, honouring their courage and acknowledging those who suffered life-changing injuries.
While condemning Trump’s statements, Starmer stressed that the UK-US relationship remains vital for national security, noting that British and American forces fought side by side in Afghanistan in defence of shared values. However, the episode has deepened diplomatic tensions already heightened by disagreements over the Chagos Islands, underlining growing friction between Downing Street and the Trump administration.