US President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed criticism of the 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, describing the military equipment left behind as “horrible” and calling the exit under his predecessor a disaster.
Speaking at a news conference on his one-year achievements, Trump said it was a “disgrace” to see the Taliban displaying US military equipment since returning to power.
“I rebuilt the military during my first term, by the way,” Trump said. “And while they gave away a lot to Afghanistan, the Taliban, which was just horrible seeing them, every year seeing them do that military down some dirty street is a disgrace.”
Trump accused former president Joe Biden of handing over large amounts of military hardware, though he said it represented only a fraction of what the United States had built up.
“But while Biden gave a lot of it away, it’s a tiny fraction compared to what we did,” he said. “I rebuilt the military and now we’re continuing to build it. And bigger and better we need it. Peace through strength.”
Trump also referred to the August 2021 bombing at Kabul airport’s Abbey Gate, which killed 13 US service members and about 170 Afghans, saying those responsible had been apprehended.
“Apprehended terrorists responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing that claimed the lives of 13 US service members in Afghanistan, the lowest point in the history of our country,” Trump said. “That was a Biden disaster.”
He again criticised the decision to withdraw US forces from Kabul rather than Bagram Air Base, a major military installation north of the capital.
“I was getting out, but I was getting out with dignity and strength,” Trump said. “They should have left from Bagram, which is the big military base which has hundreds of acres around it.”
The Taliban have previously staged military parades using US-made equipment left behind after the withdrawal, drawing criticism from Washington. Trump has repeatedly cited the issue while arguing for a stronger US military posture.
More than a year into his current term, Trump has not outlined a new comprehensive policy on Afghanistan. His administration has halted US humanitarian assistance and has opposed international engagement with the Taliban, while Taliban officials have sought to normalise relations with Washington.
