WILKES-Barre, Pa. — Former President Donald J. Trump, speaking at a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, claimed that China has taken control of the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal, criticizing the Biden administration for what he described as a humiliating exit.
“You know who occupies Bagram right now? Because it was one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons… China occupies it right now,” Trump told the crowd. He highlighted the strategic importance of the airbase, noting its proximity to China’s nuclear facilities, and accused the Biden administration of handing over a key asset.
“Thank you very much, President Xi, enjoy our billions of dollars of construction that took place years ago,” Trump added sarcastically, referring to the extensive investments made by the U.S. in the base over the past two decades.
Trump condemned the withdrawal as “the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country,” citing the loss of military equipment, the deaths of 13 U.S. service members, and the abandonment of American allies. He contrasted this with the withdrawal he had planned, which he argued would have been executed “with strength, dignity,” and would have retained control of Bagram.
“We got out in disgrace. We should have gotten out with strength,” Trump said. He emphasized that under his leadership, the U.S. was “respected” globally and criticized the current administration for what he described as a significant strategic blunder.
The former president’s remarks are part of his broader critique of the Biden administration’s foreign policy, which he claims has weakened America’s standing in the world and emboldened its adversaries. As Trump campaigns for the 2024 Republican nomination, he continues to use the Afghanistan withdrawal as a key example of what he describes as the administration’s failure to protect U.S. interests.
