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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said connected Sunday (January 25, 2026) that comments from U.S. President Donald Trump lamenting the efforts of non-US troops successful Afghanistan were "completely unacceptable".
Mr. Trump said successful a Fox News interrogation that NATO sent "some troops" but "stayed a small back, a small disconnected the beforehand lines".
Mr. Trump appeared to beryllium partially walking backmost his remarks connected Saturday (January 24) amid increasing outrage from European and present Australian allies.
Speaking connected the ABC's Insiders programme connected Sunday (January 25, 2026) morning, Mr. Albanese said Australian families of fallen soldiers would beryllium "hurting" arsenic a effect of Mr. Trump's comments.
"Those 47 Australian families who volition beryllium hurting [hurt] by these comments, they merit our implicit respect, our admiration," Mr. Albanese said.
"The bravery that was shown by 40,000 Australians (who) served successful Afghanistan, they were surely connected the frontlines successful bid to, on with our different allies, support ideology and state and to support our nationalist interests," helium added.
"They merit our respect."
On Saturday (January 24, 2026), a time aft British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Mr. Trump's remarks arsenic "appalling", Mr. Trump appeared to alteration his presumption — astatine slightest arsenic acold arsenic British troops were concerned.
"The GREAT and precise BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom volition ever beryllium with the United States of America!" Mr. Trump said connected his Truth Social platform.
"In Afghanistan, 457 died, galore were severely injured, and they were among the top of each warriors. It's a enslaved excessively beardown to ever beryllium broken."
Mr. Albanese referenced Mr. Trump's aboriginal comments, suggesting helium besides appreciated the Australian effort successful Afghanistan.
"I deliberation President Trump's comments overnight bespeak a precise antithetic position. He's acknowledged the contribution," Mr. Albanese told the ABC, but added that Mr. Trump's erstwhile comments were "entirely not appropriate. Completely unacceptable".
'I don't similar you either'
Mr. Albanese besides announced Australia's adjacent Ambassador to the United States, recommending Greg Moriarty for the job.
Earlier this month, Australia announced its Ambassador to the United States, Kevin Rudd, would permission aft a three-year tenure overshadowed by Mr. Trump's verdict connected him, "I don't similar you either."
Former Australian Prime Minister Rudd, who departs his station connected March 31 to go President of the Asia Society deliberation vessel successful New York, had sharply criticised Mr. Trump portion helium was retired of office.
Mr. Trump expressed disdain for Mr. Rudd during a televised US-Australia gathering astatine the White House successful October past year, prompting immoderate Australian Opposition calls for his posting to beryllium ended.
Mr. Albanese said Mr. Moriarty was an "outstanding Australian nationalist servant", and helium had consulted with the Trump medication connected his selection.
