President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on March 7 to say the United States doesn’t need the United Kingdom’s military assistance to prevail over Iran.
The social media post became the latest confrontation between the two long-time allies, after Trump previously criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s initial decision to block the United States from using UK bases from which to strike Iran.
As American forces alongside Israel continue to overwhelm the Iranian military now into the second week of the war, Trump said “our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all” was giving “serious thought” to sending two aircraft carriers to the region.
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember,” the U.S. president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s social media message was posted after the British Ministry of Defence said it was preparing the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier to possibly deploy to the Middle East, but a British official said no final decision has been made.
Trump blamed Starmer earlier this week for ruining America and the UK’s historically close relationship. That statement came after Starmer’s initial refusal to let the United States use British bases in the fight against Iran, which he defended by saying he had to ensure any military action was legal and thought out.
The prime minister eventually agreed to allow American forces to use British bases for the “specific and limited defensive purpose” of strikes against Iran’s missiles in storage depots or launchers.
“We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” Trump added in his March 7 Truth Social post.
Earlier March 7, Trump attended a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for the six U.S. service members killed in Kuwait during Iran’s first retaliatory attacks to Operation Epic Fury.
Trump was seen alongside First Lady Melania Trump and federal and state officials paying tribute to the fallen soldiers.
The service members killed include Maj. Jeffery R. O’ Brien of Iowa, Capt. Cody A. Khork of Florida, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert M. Marzan of California, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole M. Amor of Minnesota, Sgt. 1st Class Noah L. Tietjens of Nebraska, and Sgt. Declan J. Coady of Iowa, who were members of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 103rd Sustainment Command out of Des Moines, Iowa.
“They’re great heroes in our country, and we’re going to keep it that way,” Trump said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. president ruled out another group assisting with Operation Epic Fury.
He told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 7 that he doesn’t want Kurdish forces moving in on Iran and risk getting hurt or killed.
“We don’t want to make the war any more complex than it already is,” the president added.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed a similar stance, including in conversations with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
“There are indications, rumors, that such a situation exists [that the United States is working to mobilize Kurdish forces against the Iranian regime]. [Rubio] stated that they are not making such an effort, that they have no such intention. However, as I said at the time, Israel’s intentions in this matter are no secret,” Fidan told the media in Istanbul on March 7.
The Kurdistan Regional Government previously issued a statement on March 5 denying any part in a plan to send armed Kurdish forces into Iran.
Turkey is one of at least a dozen nations that have faced attacks from Iran. On March 4, the country reported its NATO air defense systems shot down an Iranian missile heading into Turkish air space.
Turkey’s head of communications, Burhanettin Duran, said his nation is ready to respond to any hostile acts in accordance with international law.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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