Starmer suggested Trump should apologise for claiming Nato troops stayed ‘a little off the frontlines’ – key US politics stories from 23 January at a glance
The UK prime minister Keir Starmer has accused Donald Trump of “diminishing” the sacrifice of fallen British soldiers, as the US president faced a fierce backlash from UK political leaders and families of veterans over his comments about Nato troops.
In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Trump said: “[Nato will] say they sent some troops to Afghanistan … and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines.”
That prompted widespread condemnation across the political spectrum and resurfaced questions about Trump’s own avoidance of military service in Vietnam.
Starmer said on Friday: “I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling, and I’m not surprised they caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.”
