Trump has insulted all the troops who served alongside US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan including those killed and wounded in action. The backlash has been huge, and he has served to alienate even more people in Europe, including some who supported him previously. Newspapers and TV news channels have reported this, and social media platforms are awash with outrage. These excerpts contain swearing and bad language.
Make no mistake about it, Trump speaks for America in the eyes of the world. And whether or not you voted for him, this is the outcome.
Newspaper headline.

Donald Trump has been criticised for claiming NATO troops stayed “a little off the frontlines” in Afghanistan. In an interview with Fox News in Davos, the US president repeated his criticism of NATO, saying he was not “sure” the alliance would “be there if we ever needed them”. He added: “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.” Sky News US correspondent David Blevins said the comments would be deemed “grossly offensive” by allies who fought alongside the US.
America’s allies suffered 1,160 deaths during the conflict – around a third of the total coalition deaths.
Glenn Tunes @glenn_tunes
So it has become crystal clear for us from outside of America 🤷 there is nothing the strongest nation can do to remove a Corrupt demented unhinged pedophile who’s a traitor and a war Criminal that breaks domestic and international laws every single day 🤷 he has turned America in to a corrupt terrorist state in just 1 year and no one has done anything to stop the Trump administration 🤦 America is clearly not the country we thought it was 💔
RGill @robggill
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11h
Draft dodging grandson of a draft dodger, from a family that hasn’t had one member in 4 generations serve in uniform, accusing soldiers from coalition countries of staying behind the lines. There are few families in the US that are more cowardly and self serving than the Trumps.
🇬🇧 Scottie @ksc4273
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18h
Boils my piss…”they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines” From a guy who dodged the Vietnam draft five times.
Here’s how many of my friends and colleagues who fucking never stayed a little off the frontlines you utter disrespectful bastard. 🇬🇧 457
Neil Lancaster @neillancaster66
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12h
Fucking prick. My son spent 6 months in Iraq, and then two 7 month tours of Afghanistan with the Royal Marines. He fought hard in Sangin saw friends die, or be maimed. He bears scars of his own, and he did it because the USA triggered article 5. Risible, amoral fucking bastard.
Richard Woodruff @frontlinekit
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4h
FUCK YOU DONALD 🤬Four hundred and fifty-seven 🇬🇧 British troops died, and you just spat in the faces of their families and stamped on their graves. You are a pathetic coward, unfit to serve the GREAT United States of America.
Macer Gifford @macergifford
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9h
“They stayed a little back, little off the frontlines.”
@realDonaldTrump 457 British soldiers died in Afghanistan, thousands more came home with life changing injuries.
Where is America’s respect for British soldiers?
Larry the Cat @Number10cat
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11h
Trump is a coward who repeatedly dodged military service. He is not worthy of uttering the names of the brave men and women who were killed in Afghanistan after the US invoked article 5, requesting their assistance.
Farrukh @implausibleblog
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“President Trump said the troops NATO sent to Afghanistan stayed off the front line”.
Emily Thornberry (Member of Parliament) slams Donald Trump. “It’s an absolute insult”. “An insult to 457 families who lost someone in Afghanistan”. “How dare he say we weren’t on the front line”. “How dare he”. “How dare this man who has never seen any action, who somehow or another, when there was a draft for everybody else in the US managed to avoid it”. “And yet is in Commander and Chief and knows nothing about how America has been defended”.
“Seriously it is an absolute insult”.
Miss Chief 🤨@Midge1415
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1h
Over 400 British service men & women died in Afghanistan, many more still live with life changing injuries & that’s just the UK. Donald Trump dodged the draft for the Vietnam War 5 times. Donal Trump made damn sure HE was never anywhere near any front line.
Deborah Meaden @DeborahMeaden
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10h
Can I check in again with those Trump supporters who keep popping into my timeline… do you still feel the same after his total disrespect for those Allies who fought, gave so much and sacrificed when the US called?
Thomas Standfield @TStandfield1789
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12h
Coward who dodged the draft for Vietnam with some made up medical condition accuses European troops of staying “a little back, a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan.
A disgusting slur on the sacrifice of allies that fought for America.