Furious Rod Stewart Slams ‘Draft Dodger Trump’ for Insulting NATO Troops’ Bravery in Afghanistan: ‘We Lost Over 400 of Our Guys… and Trump Calls ‘Em Cowards — It’s Unbearable’

In a sharply worded video, music legend Sir Rod Stewart has called for a public apology from Donald Trump, condemning the former U.S. President's recent comments about NATO allies' roles in Afghanistan. Stewart, who was knighted in 2016 for his services to music and charity, branded Trump a "draft dodger" and said his portrayal of European troops was an unbearable insult to their courage and sacrifice. This rebuke from the veteran artist, known for hits like "Maggie May" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", intensifies a wave of British outrage, marking a stark rupture in the pair's former friendship.

Posted to his Instagram, the formal address saw Stewart directly challenge U.K. political leaders. "I may just be a humble rock star. I'm also a knight of the realm, and I have my opinions," he stated, linking the issue to his upbringing in post-war Britain. He expressed deep personal hurt, specifically citing the over 400 British lives lost, and called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Reform UK's Nigel Farage to secure an apology. The video concluded with captions reading "We shall never forget," underscoring the emotional weight of the demand. Stewart's evolution into a political commentator reflects a broader trend among artists of his generation leveraging their platforms for advocacy.

The row stems from a Trump interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he told Fox News that NATO partners "stayed a little back, a little off the front lines" during the Afghan conflict. Military analysts have widely rejected this characterization as a gross distortion of the historical record. The United Kingdom suffered 457 fatalities in Afghanistan—the highest toll among coalition nations after the United States—with its forces engaged in protracted, intense combat. For instance, British Army units faced some of the war's fiercest fighting during their deployment in Helmand Province, a Taliban stronghold where operations in districts like Sangin were notorious for their high casualty rates and brutal urban warfare.

Condemnation from across the British political spectrum was immediate. Prime Minister Starmer called the remarks "insulting and frankly appalling," while even typically Trump-aligned figures like Nigel Farage stated "Donald Trump is wrong." The response extended beyond politics to include Prince Harry, who served two frontline tours in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex issued a statement emphasizing that allies stood "shoulder to shoulder" with American forces and that their service "deserves to be spoken about truthfully and with respect." This royal intervention adds a unique layer of authority to the rebuttal, given Harry's direct combat experience.

Stewart's forceful stance signals a definitive shift from his previously more ambivalent view of Trump, whom he once described in interviews as a likable "man's man." By repeatedly invoking the term "draft dodger"—a direct reference to Trump's five deferments during the Vietnam War—the singer frames the dispute as a moral clash between honoring service and evading it. As one foreign policy expert noted, "This incident highlights how historical military sacrifice remains a potent, unifying force in allied nations, making mischaracterizations particularly inflammatory." Stewart's critique is part of his broader recent engagement with global conflicts, including criticism of actions in Gaza and performances in support of Ukraine, illustrating how his public persona has increasingly prioritized advocacy over nostalgia.