President Donald Trump's comments about NATO forces in Afghanistan landed like a grenade in Britain this week, prompting sharp responses from both Prince Harry and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
During a Fox Business interview with Maria Bartiromo, Trump suggested that NATO allies "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the Afghanistan conflict. The president also questioned whether NATO countries would actually show up if America needed them, despite decades of U.S. commitment to the alliance. "I've always said, will they be there if we ever needed them. And that's really the ultimate test and I'm not sure of that," Trump said.
Harry's Personal Response
Prince Harry wasn't having it. The Duke of Sussex, who served nearly a decade in the British Army including two tours in Afghanistan, issued a statement Friday making it personal. "I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there. The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed," Harry said, emphasizing that NATO troops' "sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect."
This isn't the first time Harry and Trump have clashed. Trump previously criticized the prince in 2024 for "betraying" Queen Elizabeth II when Harry stepped back from royal duties. Trump even suggested that if re-elected, Harry, who now lives in California, might face deportation from the United States because of his admission of drug use.
Starmer Demands Apology
Prime Minister Starmer pulled no punches either, calling Trump's remarks "insulting and frankly appalling" during a press conference. He pointed to the same figure Harry cited: 457 British service members killed in Afghanistan. "I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting," Starmer said, adding they caused "hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured."
Sharing a video clip on X, Starmer wrote: "We will never forget the sacrifices of those who served in Afghanistan." When reporters asked if he'd demand an apology from Trump, Starmer made his position clear: "If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize."
The tension highlights ongoing questions about NATO's future and the alliance's cohesion as Trump continues to openly question its value.
