Former President Donald Trump is expected to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris on the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing during the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, will visit Arlington National Cemetery to honor the service members killed in the bombing. He will then address the National Guard Association of the United States conference in Michigan. The bombing, which occurred on Aug. 26, 2021, resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and over 100 Afghans, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.
Since President Biden ended his re-election bid, Trump has focused on Harris and her involvement in foreign policy decisions, particularly her claim of being the last person in the room with Biden when the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was made. Trump has accused Harris of having the final say in the matter and being in favor of the withdrawal. Some relatives of the 13 American service members killed in the bombing appeared at the Republican National Convention, criticizing Biden for not publicly acknowledging their loved ones. Democrats have also accused Trump of disrespecting veterans, though Trump denies these allegations.
During Trump’s presidency, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban in an effort to end America’s longest war and bring troops home. Biden later used this agreement to justify the withdrawal of troops and blamed the chaos in Afghanistan on the Taliban. However, a Biden administration review of the withdrawal acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies should have started earlier, attributing delays to the Afghan government, military, and U.S. military and intelligence assessments. The top U.S. generals overseeing the evacuation criticized the administration for inadequate planning.
Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley testified that he had recommended keeping a residual force of 2,500 troops in Afghanistan for backup, but Biden opted for a much smaller force of 650 to secure the U.S. embassy. Trump, on the other hand, denies accusations of disrespecting veterans and has been critical of Biden and Harris’ actions during the Afghanistan withdrawal. As Trump continues to focus on Harris’ role in foreign policy decisions, tensions between the former president and the current administration remain heightened as they navigate the aftermath of the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
In conclusion, Trump’s upcoming remarks on the anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing are likely to intensify criticism of Harris and Biden for their handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. The fallout from the botched withdrawal continues to be a point of contention between the two administrations, with accusations and blame shifting between them. As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the withdrawal and the impact on American service members and Afghan allies, the debate over responsibility and accountability in the decision-making process is likely to continue.
