‘Trump is absolutely right’: White House defends after Starmer slams NATO troops remark

The White House on Friday (Jan 23) slammed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his criticism of US President Donald Trump’s remarks on NATO’s response in Afghanistan. This comes after Starmer slammed Trump’s comments as “insulting and appalling” after the US president claimed that troops from NATO allies avoided the front line in Afghanistan.

“President Trump is absolutely right – the United States of America has done more for NATO than any other country in the alliance has done combined,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said in a statement.

In an interview aired on Thursday (Jan 22), Trump told Fox News, “They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan,” Referring to NATO allies. “And they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines,” he said, sparking outrage from Britain. Trump also alleged that NATO would not come to the aid of the US if asked to do so.

Starmer calls out Trump

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Starmer said in a video message, “Let me start by paying tribute to 457 of our armed services who lost their lives in Afghanistan.”

“There are many also who were injured, some with life-changing injuries, and so I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly, appalling, and I'm not surprised they’ve caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured,” he added.

Starmer added that if he had misspoken in such a way, he “would certainly apologise.”

More than 150,000 British troops served in Afghanistan after the 2001 invasion, making it the largest contingent after the United States.

Meanwhile, Poland’s Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said he expected respect for Polish veterans “who have proven how much they serve this country and our commitments to allies.” In the conflict in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks, 43 Polish soldiers were killed.

French armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin said 90 French soldiers died in Afghanistan, NATO allies, and “many others” were wounded. “We remember their sacrifice, which commands respect,” Vautrin said.