Ire of veterans' families forces Trump to row back on 'frontline' comments

Donald Trump never apologises.

- James Tapper & John Simpson

But last night the US president backed down in the face of fury from veterans and families of Britain's war dead at his false claim that they had "stayed off the frontlines".Families who spoke to The Observer were unimpressed, saying it did “not take away the pain” he had caused.

In an about-turn, Trump said British soldiers were “among the greatest of all warriors” and the bond between the soldiers of the UK and US was “too strong to ever be broken”.

Last Thursday, Trump had enraged veterans in the UK, Denmark and the other 48 nations that supported American forces in Afghanistan by saying that the US had “never needed” its Nato allies and that those who were there “stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines”.

The 79-year-old president — who British generals said was unqualified to speak, alleging he had “dodged the draft” to avoid serving in Vietnam - caused immense hurt to the families of 457 personnel who died in Britain’s 20-year campaign alongside the US in Afghanistan.

Trump’s insults have caused offence before. He called US soldiers buried in Normandy “losers” at a remembrance ceremony.