Trump Claims NATO Allies 'Stayed Off Front Lines' in Afghanistan, Insulting 850 Dead Troops

President Trump publicly claimed NATO allies avoided frontline combat in Afghanistan, directly contradicting military records showing 850 allied troops died alongside Americans in the 20-year war. The remarks drew sharp rebukes from NATO member governments and veterans groups who called the claims historically false and diplomatically damaging. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to correct the record publicly, raising concerns about alliance cohesion.