Donald Trump has once again stirred controversy, drawing sharp criticism from political figures and military veterans alike, after making contentious remarks about NATO troops’ involvement in the Afghanistan war. According to Trump, NATO, including British forces, positioned themselves “a little off the front lines,” a statement that has sparked widespread indignation.

In a recent interview with Fox News, the former U.S. president expressed skepticism about NATO’s reliability, questioning whether the alliance would support America in a time of need. “I’m not sure they’d be there for us if we ever needed them,” Trump remarked, further intensifying his critique by saying, “We’ve never needed them. We have never really asked anything of them.”

Trump acknowledged that NATO countries did send troops to Afghanistan but insinuated they were not at the forefront of the conflict. “They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan,” he commented, “and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines.”

He also highlighted the U.S.’s supportive role towards Europe and other nations, stressing, “It has to be a two-way street.” However, his comments were met with significant backlash, especially considering the substantial sacrifices made by British forces in Afghanistan, where 457 servicemen and women lost their lives, and many more were gravely injured.

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, was quick to respond, labeling Trump’s assertions as “flat-out nonsense.” Her criticism reflects the broader disapproval among those who see Trump’s statements as a disservice to the shared sacrifices and commitments made by NATO allies during the Afghanistan conflict.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch this morning accused the president of talking ‘flat-out nonsense’.

‘British, Canadian, and NATO troops fought and died alongside the US for 20 years. This is a fact, not opinion,’ she said.

 ‘Their sacrifice deserves respect not denigration.’

Labour Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said the disappointing’ comments ‘don’t really bear any resemblance to the reality’ of British troops’ service.

‘I think anybody who seeks to criticise what they have done and the sacrifices that they make is plainly wrong’ he added.

The mother of veteran Ben Parkinson, who is regarded as the most severely injured British soldier to survive in Afghanistan, said she was ‘stunned as to how anyone could say such a thing’ in reaction to US President Donald Trump’s comments.

Diane Dernie said: ‘I can assure you, the Taliban didn’t plant IEDs miles and miles back from the front line.’

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Donald Trump launched another onslaught of insults against Nato troops, claiming European personnel stayed ‘off the front lines’ in Afghanistan

British marines hold rifles during a patrol at the Bagram air base near Kabul 19 December 2001

Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said the disappointing’ comments ‘don’t really bear any resemblance to the reality’ of British troops’ sacrifice.

Reform MP Robert Jenrick said the president’s comments were ‘offensive and wrong’.

Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan, said it was ‘sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our Nato partners, held so cheaply’. 

Mr Obese-Jecty, a former captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, added: ‘I saw firsthand the sacrifices made by British soldiers I served alongside in Sangin, where we suffered horrific casualties, as did the US Marines the following year.

‘I don’t believe US military personnel share the view of President Trump; his words do them a disservice as our closest military allies.’

Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP and former RAF officer who served alongside US special operations units in Afghanistan, chimed in, saying Trump’s claim ‘bears no resemblance to the reality experienced by those of us who served there’. 

And Tan Dhesi, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said the president’s comments were ‘appalling and an insult to our brave British servicemen and women, who risked life and limb to help our allies, with many making the ultimate sacrifice’. 

Speaking on the BBC’s Question Time, Labour MP Emily Thornberry, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, called it an ‘absolute insult’, adding: ‘How dare he say we weren’t on the frontline, how dare he. We have always been there whenever the Americans have wanted us, we have always been there.’

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: ‘How dare he question their sacrifice?’ 

America is the only NATO member to have invoked the collective security provisions of its Article 5 clause – that an attack against one member is an attack on all.

That came after the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in New York in 2001, which led to a US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

The UK suffered the second-highest number of military deaths in the Afghanistan conflict at 457. The US saw 2,461 deaths. America’s allies suffered 1,160 deaths during the conflict – around a third of the total coalition deaths.

US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the Board of Peace session held as part of the 56th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on January 22, 2026

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte delivered a reality check to Donald Trump, telling him that one Nato soldier died for every two Americans in Afghanistan after the US President doubted the Western alliance

Speaking in Davos yesterday, the US President made a similar swipe against the 32-member military alliance, saying: ‘I know them all very well. I’m not sure that they’d be there. I know we’d be there for them. I don’t know that they would be there for us.’ 

Following the speech, Nato chief Rutte corrected the record to the US President, telling him: ‘There’s one thing I heard you say yesterday and today. You were not absolutely sure Europeans would come to the rescue of the US if you will be attacked. Let me tell you, they will, and they did in Afghanistan.’

Rutte’s rebuttal came after Trump called Denmark – which had the highest per capita death toll among coalition forces in Afghanistan – ‘ungrateful’ for US protection during the Second World War.

‘For every two Americans who paid the ultimate price, there was one soldier from another Nato country who did not come back to his family – from the Netherlands, from Denmark, and particularly from other countries,’ the Nato chief said.

‘So you can be assured, absolutely, if ever the United States were under attack, your allies will be with you. There is an absolute guarantee. I really want to tell you that because it pains me if you think it is not,’ Rutte told Trump.