The grieving mother of a Midland soldier killed in Afghanistan has launched a powerful condemnation of Donald Trump, demanding an apology from the US President for what she describes as "insulting" and "disrespectful" comments about NATO troops' service.
Mother's Outrage Over Frontline Remarks
Caroline Munday-Baker, from Coleshill, expressed her fury after Trump claimed in a Fox News interview that NATO forces in Afghanistan "stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines." Her son, Trooper James Munday, was just 21 years old when he lost his life in 2008 after his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while serving his country.
"I was fuming this morning about what he said," the 66-year-old grandmother told BirminghamLive. "I think it's disrespectful and insulting to everyone who served there, the families of those who were killed, and the veterans who are living today in pain and with PTSD."
Seventeen Years of Grief
Caroline revealed that seventeen years after her son's death, the pain remains raw. "I'm still not over it 17 years later," she said emotionally, responding directly to Trump's criticism of British troops. Her anguish has been compounded by what she perceives as a casual dismissal of the sacrifices made by service personnel.
"How dare he!" she exclaimed. "Who is he to say such a flippant remark? He doesn't seem to give a toss about what he says. It's really upset me. If my son and all the other sons weren't on the frontline, then where were they? He was wrong to diminish the role of our soldiers. I'm absolutely fuming."
Call for Presidential Apology
The bereaved mother, who authored the book 'Losing James: A Mother's Story' about her son's life and death, is now calling for a direct apology from the President. While acknowledging that Labour leader Keir Starmer has described Trump's comments as wrong, Caroline believes this response lacks sufficient strength.
"This for me isn't strong enough," she stated. "I would personally like an apology from him for saying that. He should apologise for disrespecting and insulting our soldiers. I can't imagine him working out there in 40°C heat. I wrote a book about my son. If he wants to know what it was really like, he should bloody well read that."
Political Response and NATO Context
Trump's controversial remarks came during broader criticism of the NATO alliance, where he expressed uncertainty about whether member nations would support the United States if needed. "We've never needed them," the President claimed during the interview. "They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan… and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the frontlines."
Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesperson responded firmly, stating that the US president "was wrong to diminish the role of NATO troops, including British forces, in Afghanistan." The spokesperson emphasised that their service and sacrifice "will never be forgotten," echoing the sentiments of military families across the United Kingdom.
Caroline Munday-Baker's powerful intervention highlights the ongoing pain felt by families who lost loved ones in conflict and their determination to ensure that such sacrifices are properly recognised and respected at the highest levels of international leadership.
