There are moments that demand we speak plainly.
The moment that Trump demeaned and mocked the sacrifices of our troops is one of them.
It is time we recognise this moment for what it is, and move together as a party and as a country to meet it.
Donald Trump has accused NATO forces in Afghanistan of having “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.” It is time for an uncomfortable truth. This man is no friend of Britain, and we must stop pretending that he is.
Our armed forces personnel stand ready, if necessary, to lay down their lives for our security. There is no higher calling. And those who answer that call, those who brace themselves to face dangers most of us will never know, deserve our eternal gratitude and a clear promise: that we will never forget, and we will never allow their service to be disrespected.
Afghanistan was the only time in NATO’s history that Article 5 was invoked. And it was invoked for America, after the attacks of September 11th.
We answered the call. We sent our troops because when your ally is attacked, you stand with them. That’s what the alliance – and the special relationship – has meant to us. That’s what we believed America meant. It is that type of internationalism that our party has always defended, and what makes me so proud to be a Liberal Democrat.
But we must be clear about who in Britain still lacks the courage to stand up. Nigel Farage could only muster that Trump’s comments were “not quite fair.” Not quite fair.
As if hundreds of British deaths were a matter of fairness, as if this were anything less than disrespect of their memory. That cowardice tells us everything we need to know about the choice before our country.
Populists have tried to claim ownership of patriotism and we must take it back.
Real patriotism isn’t wrapping yourself in a flag while tearing down your neighbours. It isn’t exploiting people’s fears or looking to divide communities.
Real patriotism is what our armed forces showed when they deployed to Afghanistan and elsewhere. It’s what their families showed when they said goodbye at RAF Brize Norton, not knowing if they would ever see them again.
That kind of patriotism doesn’t demand we all think or vote alike. It doesn’t require us to hate the same enemies or fear the same threats. What it does require is that we honour the sacrifices made in our name, that we tell the truth about them, and that we never, ever let anyone diminish them because it’s politically convenient.
The patriotism that built the welfare state and the NHS. The patriotism that stood against fascism. The patriotism that says we are strongest not when we turn inward, but when we stand with our allies in defence of shared values. That is a Britain worth defending.
So I’ve drawn my line. Trump can go f**k himself. I’m angry. But I’m proud. And anyone who mocks, demeans, or minimises the sacrifices of British troops is no friend of our nation. The United States remains a historic ally. But not this guy.
I was honoured to receive the below message today from the widow of one of the 457 after speaking out:
“Dear Mr Babarinde,
I’m writing to thank you for your pithy rebuke of Donald Trump’s outrageous comments regarding NATO troops in Afghanistan.
My husband was one of the 457 UK troops who lost their lives in operations there and for Trump to insinuate that these incredible men and women did not give their very best is not just insulting: it is rank hypocrisy.
I truly appreciate the passion in your Twitter/X post today, and that you did not lend undue diplomacy in your comments…”
This is the moment to recognise reality. We owe it to those who could not come home and their families. We owe it to the alliance that stood together when it mattered most. And we owe it to our country to remember that we must never let anyone disrespect those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us all, even if they occupy the Oval Office.
We will never forget.
* Josh Babarinde OBE is the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne and Party President from January 2026. He was the Founder and CEO of Cracked It, London's award-winning social enterprise smartphone repair service, staffed by young ex-offenders.
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22 Comments
I agree with everything in this statement. But it is worth remembering that Trump has also made demeaning and dismissive comments about American troops who were killed in combat and about Americans held as POWs. His recent comments not only reflect his contempt for countries with more liberal and democratic systems of governance, but also his general toxicity and cowardice.
Finally, a Lib Dem who isn’t polite about things it would be inhuman to be polite about.
Can Josh please be leader now.
This is what Farage actually said in his full tweet..
“Donald Trump is wrong. For 20 years our armed forces fought bravely alongside America’s in Afghanistan”
I hope that obscenities, even undisguised by asterisks, will not become a feature of LDV.
@Peter Wrigley
I agree. I have noticed this creeping into US politics recently as Democrat politicians compete to appear more anti-Trump than each other. I hope we don’t follow this trend.
All Liberal Democrats must demonstrate that he we are better than other parties and politicians, not just in our values but also in how we conduct ourselves.
@Greg Hyde
The delight your type takes at the expose of Britain’s weakness by Trump’s calling the European and NATO allies cowards speaks volumes. Weakness at least partly caused by the Brexit promoted by Farage and his Conservative fellow travellers.
You might want to look at this evidence of US commitment to European security when Farage’s other mate Putin threatens us from the east. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9r8ezym3ro
Farage offers only the “freedom” to be told what to do by America. Go over to Conservative Home where you will find easier pickings for your snakeoil. Trump and Farage apologists will make no progress here.
There are few occasions when using expletives is justified either online or in person, but this may be one of them. Trump doesn’t understand soft talk
@Greg Hyde – but when Trump made his initial comments in Davos that NATO members wouldn’t support the USA if attacked, Farage described that as ‘not quite fair’. The fact he can’t bring himself to admit that Trump was wrong on that still speaks volumes.
Personally, to me this is something where the US Ambassador should be being summoned for a dressing down. Not surprisingly, wee, sleekit, cowerin’, timrous beastie Starmer is too feart to do anything about it.
Tristan – I gave you the beginning of the full quote – which was omitted from those posting on here to make a point – a poor one at that.
The real tragedy of Afghanistan should lie squarely with both the Labour and Tories who joined the coalition of forces with the West spending Billions to replace the Taliban – with the Taliban…. That’s what British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice for …
To be fair to the Government: We as an opposition party can afford to be direct in our comments. The Government has to be a lot more careful in what they say – not least because we need America to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine: Having the emotional satisfaction of the UK Government telling Trump what we think of him wouldn’t be so good if it results in Trump (for example) withdrawing more support from Ukraine. It must be a horrible thing for people in the Government to have to balance out.
Having said that, I would also prefer to avoid using expletives in what we say (although I agree with the thrust of what Josh is saying).
I can’t help feeling that we sometimes need to be more careful in identifying the boundaries between issues – in this case Afghanistan policy, the loss of life by UK troops and dealing with a world class bullying narcissist.
In my opinion sometimes it may be necessary to drop our usual politeness. Responding to this latest outrageous lie from Trump is one of those. Many people will be saying just what Josh has written.
Greg Hyde 24th Jan ’26 – 10:32am….The real tragedy of Afghanistan should lie squarely with both the Labour and Tories who joined the coalition of forces with the West spending Billions to replace the Taliban – with the Taliban…. That’s what British soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice for…
Trying to make political points is NOT a good idea.. In opposition we were against Iraq/Afghanistan BUT, in 2013, our leadership imposed a 3-line whip in support of bombing Syria..
Thankfully Labour, Tory rebels and a few dissident LibDem enabled the subsequent vote to be defeated by just 13 votes..
Expats…I’m not to sure you understand the irony in your post. The whole article is out to score a political point. Nobody doubts the bravery of British soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. People are using a supposedly lax response from Farage to make a point – I gave the full text behind that.
Greg. I watched Farage being interviewed in Davos where he said he “politely objected” to Trump’s comments. The interview is available to watch online. The tone of his remarks, including saying that Trump’s comments were “not quite fair”, made it sound like a squabble over who should play up front for Spurs, not the debasement of the gallantry displayed by our service people. Farage often claims that Starmer is in the pocket of the EU. He should look in the mirror.
These are difficult days to be a dual US-UK citizen, but I expect there is much worse on the horizon. But I just want to add my own damn right to this, and thank you for being forthright.
“In my opinion sometimes it may be necessary to drop our usual politeness. Responding to this latest outrageous lie from Trump is one of those. Many people will be saying just what Josh has written.”
Indeed. I frequently use the F-word – in clear – when trump appears on my TV.
@expats “In opposition we were against Iraq/Afghanistan” As a party, we were only against the Iraq invasion.
Neil T …As I’ve said previously to use someone’s tone of speech as a reason to attack them for – not sounding disgusted enough by Trump’s remarks is false…I’ve given a full text of Farages comment. Nobody is doubting the bravery of our veterans. Maybe those who are outraged should question why some veterans are being dragged through the courts in their 70/80s and who voted to lift that protection …
It wasn’t Farage or Reform – that’s for sure.
“We will not take lessons on defence from a coward who dodged military service in his home country.”
Surely we don’t need a leader who can swear. We need a leader who can craft a quick, murderous response to an arrogant buffoon – one that hits home both in the UK and *most importantly* in the USA.
I’m sure a budding Charles Kennedy could do even better and suggestions would be welcome.
@Greg Hyde
Yesterday I was canvassing with a former British Officer who served in in Sangin, northern Helmand in 2009. They were engaged in over 800 fire-fights and were the target of more than 200 improvised explosive devices. His company lost 10 men killed and 50 odd wounded. You can hear his comments on World at One last Friday, at 8 minutes into the program.
“People are using a supposedly lax response from Farage to make a point – I gave the FULL TEXT behind that.” (my emphasis)
You have not.
There’s a clip of Farage speaking Davos in which he said he would object ‘politely’, to what Trump said.
‘When the decision was made to go into Afghanistan we went in with America and a coalition of the willing,’ he said.
‘We stayed by America for the whole 20 years, we proportionately spent the same money as America, we lost the same number of lives as America, pro-rata, and the same applies to Denmark and other countries too, so it is not quite fair.’
Trump’s US now apparently dumping NATO and Europe who honoured an Article 5 call by the US, and Trump effectively calling NATO and European allies cowards. Farage says he has drawn “amazing inspiration” from the MAGA movement (now snatching/executing Americans on the streets of Minnesota) and thinks old bone spurs is “the bravest man he knows”. Pardon me while I throw up.
UK soldiers do a difficult job. And many UK soldiers died in Afghanistan. It was a difficult war.