The US President appeared to suggest British troops stayed back from the front lines.

11:04, Fri, Jan 23, 2026 Updated: 11:07, Fri, Jan 23, 2026

Donald Trump scowls on stage in Davos

The US President has sparked a backlash (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump has sparked outrage after suggesting soldiers "stayed a little back" and "off the front lines" in Arghanistan. The US President said: "I've always said, will they be there if we ever needed them? That's really the ultimate test. I'm not sure of that. We've never needed them. They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan and this or that. And they did. They stayed a little back, off the front lines."

Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan as a captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, said it was sad to see the UK's sacrifice is held "cheaply" by Mr Trump.

He added: "I saw first hand 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."

Writer Neil Lancaster said on X: "F*****g p***k. My son spent 6 months in Iraq, and then two 7 month tours of Afghanistan with the Royal Marines He fought hard in Sangin saw friends die, or be maimed.

"He bears scars of his own, and he did it because the USA triggered article 5 Risible, amoral f*****g b*****d."

Photographer Eddie Mulholland shared a picture he took of multiple hearses carrying coffins draped in Union Flags, and wrote: "'They stayed a little back'… Trump about the other NATO troops that backed The US… this is one of mine from Wooton Basset…"

Ex-Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe wrote: "Trump's comments about British troops in Afghanistan were deeply offensive. 'They stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines.'

"We should never have been in those hellholes, but so many decent British men and women lost their lives fighting there. Not a 'little off' the frontlines, but fighting alongside American allies and others.

"We should never have been involved in those wars, and I will never forgive the cowards who took us into them. And yes, of course we need to spend more on our military capabilities.

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"That does NOT excuse Trump's comments. The troops there were patriotic men and women who should have their memory and service honoured, not demeaned by the American President.

"I like Trump. He's good for the West. But these comments were abhorrent. I sincerely hope he apologises."