WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has once again criticized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, calling it “the most humiliating time in the history” of the United States.
Speaking at the Department of Justice, Trump reiterated his belief that the U.S. should have maintained control of Bagram Air Base, citing its strategic location near China’s nuclear facilities. He also claimed, without evidence, that China now controls the air base.
“If you look at Afghanistan, that was probably what got Putin started, because when he saw how horribly we looked… I think the most embarrassing day—not that we got out. I would have been out faster than them. But we would have kept Bagram, the big air force base,” Trump said. “The reason we would have kept it is because they were one hour away from where China has and builds its nuclear weapons, and they gave that up. In the dark of night, they left the lights on.”
Trump went further, suggesting that those responsible for the withdrawal should face criminal consequences. “Not that we were getting out, but we would have gotten out with dignity and strength. When you think about it, the people who did this to us should go to jail. They should go to jail,” he said.
The United States and NATO forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, ending a 20-year military presence. The chaotic pullout led to the swift collapse of the Afghan government and the Taliban’s return to power.
