Donald Trump has paid tribute to the ‘great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom’.

In a statement, the US President said: ‘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! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’

Earlier this week Mr Trump was accused of ‘trampling on the memories’ of Britain’s 457 war dead with his claim they had stayed ‘a little off the frontlines’.

Downing Street led a chorus of condemnation as Sir Keir Starmer branded Mr Trump’s remarks ‘insulting and frankly appalling,’ suggesting he should apologise.

It is understood that Sir Keir raised Mr Trump’s comments about Nato troops in Afghanistan directly with the US president in a conversation today.

The coffin containing the body of British Army soldier L/cpl Paul ‘Sandy’ Sandford from the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment is carried by his fellow soldiers during his repatriation ceremony on June 9, 2007 in Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Following the President’s incendiary interview with US media, decorated veterans, MPs from all parties and the families of soldiers killed and wounded lined up to vent their hurt and anger.

Many pointed out that Mr Trump himself had repeatedly swerved military service in Vietnam.

Doug Beattie, a former Army captain who won the Military Cross in Afghanistan, said: ‘I will not allow anybody to trample over the memory of those men and women who I served alongside, who gave so much.

‘We need to stand up to him, stand up to his bullying. This is a man who doesn’t understand service because he dodged the draft and now he is insulting those who served their country.’

Prince Harry, who was twice deployed to Afghanistan in his ten-year military career, joined the condemnation, saying: ‘I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there.

‘Thousands of lives were changed for ever. Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.

‘Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect.’ 

President Trump – just days after clashing with Nato allies over his bid to take control of Greenland – told Fox News he was ‘not sure’ the military alliance of Western countries would be there for America ‘if we ever needed them’.

Prince Harry (pictured), who was twice deployed to Afghanistan in his ten-year military career, joined the condemnation, saying: ‘I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there’

In what was taken as a cheap shot at his country’s closest friends, he claimed: ‘We’ve never needed them… we have never really asked anything of them. They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan. And they did – they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines’.

His comments triggered outrage, with ministers dispensing with diplomatic protocol. Al Carns, the Armed Forces minister and a former commando who served five tours in Afghanistan, said Britain had fought ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with US troops after America asked Nato allies to come to its aid following the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Mr Carns raged: ‘This is utterly ridiculous. We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home. 

‘I’d suggest whoever believes these comments come have a whisky with me, my colleagues, their families and importantly, the families of those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for both of our nations.’

Calvin Bailey, Labour MP and a former RAF Wing Commander, was awarded a US Air Medal for serving with American special ops in Afghanistan. 

He blasted: ‘The notion that we weren’t in and amongst the front line, albeit I was a pilot, is for the birds.’

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, meanwhile, accused the President of talking ‘flat-out nonsense’, adding: ‘Their sacrifice deserves respect, not denigration.’ Sir Jeremy Hunt, former foreign secretary, called Mr Trump’s remarks ‘totally unacceptable, factually wrong and deeply disrespectful’.

In his response to the US President, Sir Keir 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. If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologise.’

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