The families of soldiers killed and maimed in Afghanistan have spoken of their disbelief after President Donald Trump suggested British troops remained away from the front lines during the conflict that claimed 457 UK lives.
Diane Dernie, whose son Ben Parkinson is regarded as the most severely injured British soldier to survive the war, said she was “stunned as to how anyone could say such a thing.” She pointed out that Taliban improvised explosive devices were not planted miles from the fighting, adding that the Prime Minister should “make a stand” in response.
Ian Sadler, whose 21-year-old son Trooper Jack Sadler was killed in 2007, insisted British personnel had operated in the most dangerous areas. He noted that alongside the 457 deaths, approximately three times that number suffered serious injuries.
The remarks, made during a Fox News interview, prompted a rare rebuke from Downing Street. A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer said the President was “wrong in diminishing the sacrifice and service of our troops,” emphasising that British forces had responded to an attack on an ally in the service of collective security.
Mr Trump had told the broadcaster he was “not sure” whether NATO would support America if required, claiming the alliance had “never really asked anything” of the United States. He acknowledged allies had deployed personnel to Afghanistan but asserted they “stayed a little back.”
Armed Forces Minister Al Cairns, a Royal Marine who completed five tours in the country, described the comments as “utterly ridiculous.” He recounted serving alongside American colleagues, stating that personnel from multiple nations had fought on and beyond the front lines. Mr Cairns invited anyone who believed the President’s claims to share a whisky with veterans and the families of the fallen.
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, a former captain who served in Sangin, said he had witnessed horrific casualties suffered by British soldiers and US Marines alike. He expressed doubt that American military personnel shared Mr Trump’s view.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch accused the President of speaking “flat-out nonsense” about forces who fought and died alongside the United States. Defence Secretary John Healey described the fallen as “heroes who gave their lives in service of our nation.”
The United States remains the only NATO member to have invoked Article 5, the alliance’s collective defence clause, following the September 2001 attacks. Britain suffered the second-highest death toll among coalition forces, behind only America’s 2,461 fatalities.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, a close ally of Mr Trump, has not yet responded to the President’s remarks.
