Trump backed down over Afghanistan feedback ‘after King Charles stepped in’
Donald Trump backed down from his inflammatory remarks about British troops’ involvement in Afghanistan after King Charles raised his concerns, it is claimed.
The US President described British forces as “among the greatest of all warriors” on Saturday (January 24) following a furious backlash after he claimed UK and Nato troops were not on the frontline in Afghanistan. His U-turn came after the monarch’s concerns were passed to the White House through ‘private backchannels’, according to The Sun.
A British official told the publication: “You would always expect our Commander-in-Chief to defend the Armed Forces’ proud record of service and sacrifice.”
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Meanwhile, another source added: “It was made very clear that the King’s concern over the hurt had been caused by the comments whether inadvertent or not.”
Trump is known to be a fan of the British Royal Family. He is said to have been inspired from an early age by his mother’s love for the royals.
He triggered controversy earlier this week after he said British troops “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.” But, in his statement on Saturday, he said that British troops fought in Afghanistan with “tremendous heart and soul.” He added: “We love you all and always will.”
The apparent climbdown came after a direct call from PM Sir Keir Starmer to the American leader. Trump posted on his Truth Social website after two days of heavy criticism: “The great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors.
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“It’s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The UK Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the USA!). We love you all, and always will! President Donald J Trump.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon. The PM raised the brave and heroic British and American soldiers who fought side-by-side in Afghanistan, many of whom never returned home. We must never forget their sacrifice.”
A total of 457 British service personnel died in the Afghanistan war from 2001-2021.
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Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, was among those who criticised Trump over his earlier remarks. He said: “I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed.
“Thousands of lives were changed forever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost. Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace.”
Trump’s earlier remarks were criticised by veterans and by leaders from across the political spectrum.
(Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
After his U-turn, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “I’m pleased President Trump has now acknowledged the role of the British Armed Forces and those brave men and women who gave their lives fighting alongside the US and our allies. It should never have been questioned in the first place.”
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Speaking on Thursday, Trump hit out at Nato allies and accused them of failing to pull their weight. He claimed: “We’ve never needed them. We’ve never really asked anything of them. You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that.
“And they did — they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
Yet in Nato’s 77 years the US is the only country to invoke Article 5, that deems an attack on one member an attack on all. The US did so after the 9/11 attack in 2001.
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