Former President Donald Trump has been vocal about his criticism of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. On the third anniversary of the Kabul airport bombing, which killed 13 U.S. service members, Trump called the event a “humiliation” and stated that the withdrawal led to a collapse of “American credibility and respect” worldwide. He mentioned that while he supported the idea of withdrawing from Afghanistan, he believes it should have been executed with “dignity and strength,” contrasting it with what he describes as “the most embarrassing day in the history of our country”MPR News
Former President Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. During his visit, Trump aimed to turn the chaotic pullout into a focal point of criticism against Vice President Kamala Harris. The event featured a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, attended by family members of some of the 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives in a bombing at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal.
Commander in Chief & President Trump:
Early this morning, Tulsi and I were at Arlington National Cemetery with the families of servicemembers who lost their lives in the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Today marks the 3-year anniversary of the terrorist attack at… pic.twitter.com/10FXFpmZKM
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) August 26, 2024
Accompanied by the bereaved families, Trump descended the steps to lay a wreath, listened to the solemn notes of taps, and repeated the process twice more to honor others being remembered that day. Throughout his campaign, Trump has been vocal in criticizing President Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, calling it the most “embarrassing moment” in U.S. history. With Harris now at the top of the Democratic ticket, Trump and his allies have continued their critique, highlighting her involvement in the decision-making process during the withdrawal.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his stance, calling the withdrawal “BOTCHED” and labeling it a national disgrace. He criticized the decision to pull U.S. soldiers out before ensuring the safety of civilians and securing military equipment, linking the withdrawal to subsequent global conflicts and asserting that it diminished the U.S.’s standing worldwide.
The families of the 13 service members killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal have also been vocal in their criticism of the Biden administration. Speaking at the Republican National Convention, they expressed disappointment with Biden’s handling of the situation and shared that they felt Trump showed more empathy towards their loss.
On the anniversary, both President Biden and Vice President Harris released statements reflecting on the withdrawal and honoring the fallen service members. Harris expressed deep sympathy for the families, acknowledging their pain and loss, and praised the courage of the troops who put their lives on the line for the country. She defended the decision to end the prolonged conflict, emphasizing the administration’s ability to counter terrorist threats without deploying troops to combat zones.
Today marks the anniversary of the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden is reportedly in Delaware, totally unaware and unphased by his actions that cost American lives.
And Trump honors the 13 fallen. pic.twitter.com/Oubry146e6
— Gentry Gevers (@gentrywgevers) August 26, 2024
In a move to honor those who died, Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Congress would award the Congressional Gold Medal to the families of the 13 service members killed during the withdrawal. This gesture recognizes their ultimate sacrifice and acknowledges the complex legacy of the Afghanistan conflict.
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- Trump has also highlighted Vice President Kamala Harris’s involvement, stating that she was “the last person in the room” with Biden before the decision was made, using this to criticize both for what he sees as a failure in leadership. He suggested that the decision to withdraw in such a manner has set off negative repercussions globally MPR News
- These statements are part of Trump’s broader strategy to use the Afghanistan withdrawal as a point of criticism against the Biden administration, particularly as the 2024 election approaches. You can find more details on these events on MPR News and Political Wire.
Key Points:
i. Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery to mark the third anniversary of the Afghanistan withdrawal and criticized the Biden administration.
ii. He laid wreaths with the families of the 13 service members killed during the withdrawal.
iii. Trump and his allies have consistently criticized the withdrawal as a significant failure and a point of attack against Vice President Harris.
iv. Both Biden and Harris issued statements honoring the fallen and defending the decision to end the war.
v. The families of the fallen service members will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by Congress.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News