Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for its handling of the U.S. troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Trump claimed that Afghanistan, under Taliban control, has become a major seller of U.S. military equipment globally.
Speaking to the National Rifle Association in Harrisburg, PA, Trump stated the U.S. left $85 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan. “Afghanistan now is one of the largest sellers of military equipment in the world. They are selling our beautiful brand-new equipment,” he said.
Trump described the withdrawal as the “most embarrassing moment” in U.S. history and referenced the peace negotiations with the Taliban in 2020. He noted that during the 18 months of those talks, no American soldier was killed.
Criticizing Biden’s approach, Trump said, “And then this guy [Joe Biden] comes in and he takes the soldiers out first.” Trump, who was president from 2017 to 2021, began peace talks with the Taliban’s Qatar Political Office in 2019, leading to a deal signed by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, now Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban regime.
He also mentioned the August 2021 suicide bombing that killed 13 American troops during the evacuation, claiming that hundreds of Americans were left behind. “They took the soldiers out… We had 13 incredible soldiers killed. The families are unbelievable,” Trump said.
Following the rapid withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban.
