'He loves the UK!' Donald Trump's Nato soldier claims defended as Republican points out 'important distinction' in 'careless' remarks

Mr Trump has sparked widespread fury among veterans after his latest attack on Nato at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Speaking to Fox News, the US President said: "We have never really asked anything of them [Nato].

"They'll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that, and they did. They stayed a little back, a little off the front lines."

The comments have sparked outrage among British veterans, as 457 British personnel sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan responding to America's call.

Reacting to the remarks, Mr Swenson told GB News: "I think to say the President was careless is probably an understatement in this case.

"And it's really unfortunate. I can't speak for him, I don't know what he was thinking, but it didn't sound like he was speaking specifically about Great Britain or the UK, and I think that's an important distinction."

Highlighting Mr Trump's "disdain" for the EU, he added: "He has a bit of a disdain for the EU and he also kind of considers Europe as Western Europe, ex-UK, as one bloc.

"He was trying to make a point, but it wasn't obviously delivered well."

Speaking on Mr Trump and his great fondness for the UK, Mr Swenson told GB News: "I'm not defending it, but what I'm suggesting is that he wasn't talking about the UK.

"He's very fond of the UK, he's an Anglophile. He talks about it often, and I think if the question was posed differently, as what about Great Britain or what about the UK, I think he would have delivered a different answer."

Challenging Mr Swenson's argument, host Ellie Costello hit back: "But then when you pair that with comments from JD Vance last year about the peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, and that was talking about Britain and France, he said 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn't fought a war in 30 or 40 years.

"There seems to be a lack of understanding in the administration about the sacrifice and the commitment that the UK has given him?"

The Republican responded: "I'm not sure who JD Vance was referencing, but with Trump, if it was specifically addressed about the UK, I think the answer would have been different.

"Again, I'm trying to interpret something that I can't really get inside their heads on, but look, it's off-the-cuff comments can be careless, that's reckless, and I'm not defending that. But that's the way the unfiltered nature of both the President and the Vice President are."

He continued: "And when you do that, it's refreshing. Unfiltered is refreshing, honest, candid comments. They are often saying what people are thinking, but when you do that, you're bound to make very, very big mistakes.

"And I like the candour, I like the unfiltered nature of the way they speak.

"But once in a while, and I've done it myself, you make a mistake and it's unfortunate.

"With some clarity and with some discussion, I think they would be very clear that the commitment from the partnership with the UK is an amazing one."

Referring to the Danish troops who also fought in Afghanistan alongside the UK, Mr Swenson concluded: "And the sacrifice of even Denmark, who punches above its weight given their population, it's unfortunate that these things happen.

"But I think with some clarity, if the discussion was the United Kingdom, it would be a completely different answer."