In response to Trump's words, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described them as "offensive and outrageous," as reported by the BBC. In his video address from Downing Street, he honored the memory of 457 British servicemen who died in Afghanistan and emphasized that many of them sustained serious injuries. When asked about apologies, Starmer stated that in the case of such a mistake, he would "certainly apologize."
Prince Harry, who also served in Afghanistan, noted that "thousands of lives have been changed forever" and that these sacrifices deserve respectful treatment. UK Defense Secretary Jon Healey characterized the fallen soldiers as "heroes who gave their lives in service to our country."
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch called Trump's remarks a disgrace, emphasizing that such inappropriate comments could undermine the strong ties between allies. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey reminded that Trump avoided service five times during the Vietnam War. Even his long-time ally Nigel Farage described Trump's comments as "simply incorrect," noting that the British armed forces "bravely fought alongside the US in Afghanistan" for 20 years.
