Trump admits Europeans served in Afghanistan but "we never needed them"

[BeyondGeography]

And “they stayed a little back.”

What a piece of shit.

Trump prompts outrage with claim Nato troops avoided frontline in Afghanistan

Donald Trump has provoked outrage among British MPs and veterans after claiming Nato troops stayed away from the frontline in Afghanistan. The US president made his comments in an interview with Fox News in which he reiterated his suggestion that Nato would not support the US if asked.

His remarks drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, with critics pointing to the 457 British deaths in Afghanistan and highlighting Trump’s avoidance of military service in Vietnam. A total of 3,486 Nato troops died in the 20-year conflict, of which 2,461 were US service personnel. Canada suffered 165 deaths, including civilians. Denmark, which has been at loggerheads with the US over Trump’s designs on Greenland, had 44 combat deaths in Afghanistan, the most per capita outside the US.

In the interview with Fox News, Trump said: “We’ve never needed them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan … and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines.” Calvin Bailey, a Labour MP and former RAF officer who served alongside US special operations units in Afghanistan, said Trump’s claim “bears no resemblance to the reality experienced by those of us who served there”. The Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who served in Afghanistan as a captain in the Royal Yorkshire Regiment, said it was “sad to see our nation’s sacrifice, and that of our Nato partners, held so cheaply by the president of the United States”.

…Stephen Stewart, a former soldier and an author and journalist, said: “Trump’s comments are as offensive as they are inaccurate. It’s hugely ironic that someone who allegedly dodged the draft for the Vietnam war should make such a disgraceful statement…The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, said on X: “Trump avoided military service 5 times. How dare he question their sacrifice. Farage and all the others still fawning over Trump should be ashamed.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/23/donald-trump-outrage-nato-troops-avoided-afghanistan-frontline?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

[malaise]

1. THIS

From the text
It’s hugely ironic that someone who allegedly dodged the draft for the Vietnam war should make such a disgraceful statement…The Liberal Democrat leader, Ed Davey, said on X:

[llmart]

7. I hate this fucker with a red hot passion.

He didn't "allegedly dodge the draft". The proof is out there that he didn't serve, not voluntarily or by being drafted. Some other poor guy without a rich daddy took his place.

[malaise]

8. Agree

Rec

[Kid Berwyn]

18. "Stayed a little back," said the expert on staying a lot back.

Dip is toasted in so many ways it’s criminal.

[raccoon]

2. Quiet, Piggy!

[irisblue]

3. Come on cholesterol

[SunSeeker]

10. ...

[no_hypocrisy]

4. One or more European soldier kept one American soldier alive to come home.

Bite me, Donnie!

[Botany]

5. Commander Bone Spurs, "and they stayed back a little bit."

Australian Gregory Sher KIA in Afghanistan in 2009.

Trump has no shame.

[ColoringFool]

6. He Will Lie About Everything. Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

[SunSeeker]

9. So they were "suckers and losers"?!

[Emile]

11. Draft dodging hypocritical piece of shit. Fucking guy is an embarrassment to this country.

He needs to be in jail.

[democrank]

12. Trump has no comprehension of sacrifice.

Trump knows nothing about valor. That’s how he can question the sacrifice of men and women who served and how he could gleefully accept a US veteran’s Purple Heart a few years ago. He said he always wanted one. Got his the easy way.

I’m ashamed of him and those who still support him.

[Biophilic]

13. He is the complete Ugly American.

From his racism to his misogyny to his smug sense of superiority to his belief that money is everything I can’t think of a more perfect example of ALL of America’s faults and failings.

[Botany]

14. He makes John Wilkes Both look like a great American Patriot.

After all he was a dandy little actor.

[thesquanderer]

15. He's right that we didn't need them. We were perfectly capable of totally screwing it up all by ourselves. (n/t)

[Totally Tunsie]

16. ...and he has the balls to call Denmark "ungrateful"???

[Prairie Gates]

17. Over 50 Italians were KIA in Afghanistan...today Meloni is saying Trump should get the Peace Prize

Truly disgusting work from Meloni today.