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Sunday, Jan 25, 2026
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Australian Veterans Condemn Trump’s Remarks on Afghanistan Service as ‘Unfathomable’
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that allied troops ‘stayed a little back’ from frontline combat in Afghanistan draws widespread outrage from veterans and political leaders
Australian military veterans and national leaders have responded with profound anger and disbelief after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested in a recent interview that allied forces, including Australian troops, remained “a little off the front lines” during the Afghanistan war.
The remarks, which many see as diminishing the sacrifices of coalition service personnel, have sparked a broad backlash across Australia and other allied nations.
Returned and Services League of Australia national president Peter Tinley, a former deputy commander of Special Forces in Afghanistan, rejected Trump’s characterisation as historically inaccurate and deeply disrespectful to the nearly forty thousand Australians who served, as well as the forty-seven who lost their lives and the hundreds wounded in the two-decade conflict.
Tinley emphasised that Australian forces took part in high-risk operations in Uruzgan Province, conducting offensive counterinsurgency missions, clearing Taliban strongholds, mentoring Afghan units under fire and confronting roadside bombs amid sustained combat.
Liberal MP and veteran Andrew Hastie described Trump’s comments as a “massive slur” against Australian soldiers who “fought, bled and died alongside Americans,” underscoring that mutual respect is fundamental to strong alliances.
Across the political spectrum, calls have grown for demonstrable support from Canberra’s leadership, with demands that government leaders reaffirm Australia’s proud military record and urge Trump to retract his remarks and offer an apology to veterans.
Defence Minister Richard Marles reiterated the nation’s respect for those who served, noting that the contributions and sacrifices of Australians in Afghanistan will always be honoured.
The controversy has unfolded amid similar international rebukes, including from British officials and veterans, who have also challenged Trump’s comments about North Atlantic Treaty Organization service members.
The episode has reignited discussions about how allied contributions are recognised in public discourse and the importance of preserving the dignity of those who served in coalition operations.
The remarks, which many see as diminishing the sacrifices of coalition service personnel, have sparked a broad backlash across Australia and other allied nations.
Returned and Services League of Australia national president Peter Tinley, a former deputy commander of Special Forces in Afghanistan, rejected Trump’s characterisation as historically inaccurate and deeply disrespectful to the nearly forty thousand Australians who served, as well as the forty-seven who lost their lives and the hundreds wounded in the two-decade conflict.
Tinley emphasised that Australian forces took part in high-risk operations in Uruzgan Province, conducting offensive counterinsurgency missions, clearing Taliban strongholds, mentoring Afghan units under fire and confronting roadside bombs amid sustained combat.
Liberal MP and veteran Andrew Hastie described Trump’s comments as a “massive slur” against Australian soldiers who “fought, bled and died alongside Americans,” underscoring that mutual respect is fundamental to strong alliances.
Across the political spectrum, calls have grown for demonstrable support from Canberra’s leadership, with demands that government leaders reaffirm Australia’s proud military record and urge Trump to retract his remarks and offer an apology to veterans.
Defence Minister Richard Marles reiterated the nation’s respect for those who served, noting that the contributions and sacrifices of Australians in Afghanistan will always be honoured.
The controversy has unfolded amid similar international rebukes, including from British officials and veterans, who have also challenged Trump’s comments about North Atlantic Treaty Organization service members.
The episode has reignited discussions about how allied contributions are recognised in public discourse and the importance of preserving the dignity of those who served in coalition operations.
