Overview
- In a Truth Social post, President Trump hailed British soldiers as "among the greatest of all warriors," noting 457 U.K. service members died in Afghanistan.
- Downing Street confirmed Starmer spoke with Trump and raised the sacrifices of British and American forces who fought side by side.
- Leaders across Europe, including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Poland’s Donald Tusk and France’s Emmanuel Macron, publicly rejected Trump’s earlier characterization of NATO troops.
- Some outlets reported that King Charles conveyed concerns to the White House through private channels, though Buckingham Palace declined comment and the reports remain unverified.
- The White House initially defended Trump’s remarks, even as veterans and bereaved families voiced criticism over his claim that allied troops stayed off the front lines.