What Happened
Rod Stewart — the British rock star — publicly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him a “draft dodger” and urging him to apologise for comments Trump made about NATO troops’ roles in the Afghanistan war. Stewart’s words were posted on social media along with a video addressing the issue. (Upday News)
What Trump Said
- In an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump suggested that NATO allies sent troops to Afghanistan but that they “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
- Trump also questioned whether NATO would support the U.S. if ever needed. (Upday News)
This was widely seen as diminishing the service of allied forces, especially British troops, given the high number of British casualties and serious injuries in Afghanistan. (Upday News)
Rod Stewart’s Appeal
Stewart’s Message
- Stewart called Trump a “draft dodger” — referring to Trump’s deferments from military service during the Vietnam era — in the context of criticising his remarks about allied troops.
- He said Trump’s comments were “unbearable,” especially given the sacrifices made by British soldiers who fought and died in Afghanistan.
- Stewart directly appealed to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to pressure Trump into issuing a formal apology to UK troops and their families. (Upday News)
Stewart noted the human cost of the conflict, pointing out that more than 457 British soldiers died and many more were injured — a reminder of real sacrifice behind the political row. (Upday News)
Personal Context
Stewart and Trump used to be neighbours in Palm Beach and reportedly socialised together — but Stewart said their friendship ended after Trump became president. (Upday News)
Case Studies: Reactions and Backlash
🇬🇧 UK Political Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Trump’s comments as “insulting and frankly appalling.”
- Starmer paid tribute to British forces who served and died in Afghanistan and said if he had made similar comments, he would certainly apologise. (BBC)
Other UK leaders, including Defence Minister John Healey and Labour figures, echoed strong disapproval, emphasising the significant role and sacrifices of UK troops. (The Sun)
Military Families and Veterans
Families of soldiers who died — including bereaved mothers and veterans — openly criticised Trump and demanded a genuine apology.
- One mother, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, labelled Trump’s remarks a “total coward” and said the troops and their families deserved real respect. (Yahoo News)
Veterans themselves, including seriously wounded former servicemen, called the comments deeply disrespectful and hurtful given they stood alongside U.S. forces in frontline combat. (Reddit)
Wider Public and International Responses
Allied Voices
Across NATO, former service members who fought beside U.S. troops also voiced that Trump’s remarks were deeply insulting and showed a lack of understanding about the joint sacrifices made in Afghanistan. (The Guardian)
Trump’s Backtracking
After the wave of backlash — including from Starmer, Prince Harry, military families and public figures like Stewart — Trump posted a statement on social media praising British troops as “very brave” and reaffirming the strong bond between U.S. and UK forces.
- However, he stopped short of offering a direct apology for his earlier comments. (Benzinga)
Comments and Public Debate
From Entertainment and Social Media
- Many commenters on public forums and social platforms backed Stewart’s stand, saying that it was important to call out disparaging remarks about military service. (Reddit)
Political Discussion
- The incident ignited debate not only about Trump’s view of NATO contributions but about the importance of respecting allied service members and the political implications of such statements for trans-Atlantic relations. (ABC)
Summary
- Rod Stewart publicly called on Donald Trump to apologise to UK troops after Trump suggested that NATO allies’ forces “stayed back” from front-line combat in Afghanistan — comments seen as offensive to British and other allied veterans. (Upday News)
- Stewart labelled Trump a “draft dodger,” emphasised the sacrifices of UK soldiers, and urged political leaders — including Keir Starmer — to demand a formal apology. (Upday News)
- The remarks sparked broad backlash across UK politics, veteran communities, families of the fallen and the international public, leading Trump to later praise British troops — though without explicitly apologising. (Benzinga)
Here’s a detailed, up-to-date look at Rod Stewart’s public call for Donald Trump to apologise to UK troops, including case studies of reactions, broader fallout and public comments — based on multiple reliable news reports:
What Sparked the Row
In late January 2026, former US President Donald Trump made controversial remarks in a Fox News / Davos interview suggesting that NATO allies’ troops “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan — comments widely interpreted as downplaying their role in combat. (Upday News)
The remarks triggered nationwide anger in the UK, given that 457 British soldiers died in Afghanistan and many more were injured, with UK public figures saying Trump’s comments were insulting and hurtful to veterans and bereaved families. (Upday News)
Rod Stewart’s Intervention
The Appeal
- Sir Rod Stewart, the British rock legend, posted a video on social media calling Trump a “draft dodger” — a reference to Trump’s Vietnam-era deferments — and urged him to apologise to UK troops for the remarks. (Upday News)
- Stewart said Trump’s comments were “unbearable,” underlining his respect for British forces and the sacrifices they made. (Upday News)
- He directly appealed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and even Nigel Farage to pressure Trump into saying sorry. (Upday News)
Personal Background
Stewart noted in his message that he had known Trump socially in the past, recalling they were once Palm Beach neighbours, but the friendship ended after Trump became president. (Upday News)
Case Studies: Reactions & Responses
🇬🇧 UK Political Response
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelled Trump’s original comments as “insulting and frankly appalling,” paying tribute to the service and sacrifices of UK troops and signalling that Trump should apologise. (Rother Radio)
- Starmer said if he had made such comments, he “certainly would apologise” — a strong public rebuke. (Rother Radio)
- Senior figures across parties, including Conservative figures, also criticised Trump’s remarks as disrespectful to British forces. (Rother Radio)
Veterans and Families Speak Out
- British veterans and families of those killed or injured have expressed anger and hurt at Trump’s characterisation of allied troops’ roles. (Upday News)
- Some veterans who served alongside US forces said the comments diminished the reality of frontline combat and disrespected shared sacrifices. (Rother Radio)
Royal and Military Voices
- Prince Harry, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, said allied sacrifices “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect” — adding emotional weight to the backlash. (The New Arab)
- Statements from military communities echoed that allied troops fought and died side by side with US counterparts. (The New Arab)
Trump’s Follow-Up and Apology Debate
- After the backlash — including Stewart’s and Starmer’s comments — Trump posted praise for UK troops, calling them “very brave” and emphasising strong US-UK military bonds. (Military.com)
- However, he did not issue a direct apology for the original remarks, which remains a key focus of Stewart’s and other critics’ demands. (Military.com)
Public and Online Commentary
Support for Stewart’s Stand
- Online discussions (e.g., social forums) show some public support for Stewart calling out Trump’s remarks and urging an apology. (Reddit)
- Many commentators highlight that public figures defending veterans helps draw attention to the sacrifices of allied forces. (Reddit)
Mixed Reactions
- Some online debates interrogate the broader politics of Trump’s comments and celebrity interventions — showing a spectrum of views. (Reddit)
Why It Matters
This episode isn’t just about a celebrity feud — it’s a flashpoint in diplomatic and cultural perceptions:
- National memory and respect for military service: Stewart’s and others’ responses reflect strong feelings in the UK about how allied troops are remembered and honoured. (Rother Radio)
- Political diplomacy: The row highlights tensions that can arise when public figures and heads of state make statements perceived as diminishing allies’ contributions. (LinkedIn)
- Veteran and family impact: For those directly affected by the Afghanistan conflict, such comments can be deeply personal and painful — fuelling calls for clearer acknowledgements of service. (Rother Radio)
Summary
- Rod Stewart publicly called on Donald Trump to apologise to UK troops after Trump’s remarks about NATO allies’ combat roles in Afghanistan. (Ultimate Classic Rock)
- Stewart labelled Trump a “draft dodger” and called for political leaders to push for a formal apology. (Variety)
- The issue sparked broad backlash from UK political leaders, veterans’ families, and public figures, with Trump later offering praise but not an explicit apology. (Military.com)