US President Trump appeared on Saturday to walk back comments he made earlier in the week, suggesting non-U.S. troops in NATO avoided the front lines in Afghanistan, following widespread anger from British political leaders and military families.

"The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America! In Afghanistan, 457 died, many were badly injured, and they were among the greatest of all warriors. It`s a bond too strong to ever be broken. The U.K. Military, with tremendous Heart and Soul, is second to none (except for the U.S.A.!). We love you all, and always will!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump remarked during an interview at the World Economic Forum on Thursday that the U.S. "never needed" non-U.S. troops while appearing to diminish their contributions.

"You know, they`ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, or this or that, and they did - they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines," Trump told Fox Business in Davos, Switzerland.

The assertion sparked outrage across the United Kingdom, where leaders spanning the political spectrum, along with former soldiers and parents of fallen military members, slammed Trump for doubting NATO`s commitment to its allies and downplaying the role of non-U.S. troops.

NATO allies sent troops to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, supporting the effort for more than 20 years. Roughly 3,500 NATO and partner-nation soldiers died in the conflict, with U.K. forces suffering more than 450 casualties - the second most losses behind the U.S.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Trump`s remarks as "insulting" and "frankly appalling," while paying tribute to the British personnel who died and were severely injured.

"I will never forget their courage, their bravery and the sacrifice they made for their country," Starmer said. "I consider President Trump`s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country."

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey suggested that Starmer should demand an apology from Trump, calling his comments "totally unacceptable."

Diane Dernie, the mother of a former paratrooper severely injured in Afghanistan, told BBC News that it was "absolutely disgraceful" to have her son`s experience "negated" by Trump.

Trump`s remarks also drew the ire of Danish Ambassador to the U.S. Jesper Møller Sørensen, who responded in a post on the social platform X that "Denmark answered" when the U.S. called for help fighting terrorist groups overseas.

"Thousands of Danish troops served in Helmand - on the front line. We lost more soldiers per capita than even the United States. That was solidarity. We stood with America then - and we still do. I witnessed our brave men & women during my 1.5 years in Afghanistan," Sørensen wrote.