Trump to Link Harris to Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal in National Guard Speech

In a speech scheduled for Monday, former President Donald Trump is expected to emphasize his foreign policy achievements while linking Vice President Kamala Harris to one of the most controversial episodes of the Biden administration: the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of conflict.

This address coincides with the third anniversary of the tragic suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, an attack that resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members as well as over 100 Afghan civilians. The Islamic State group took responsibility for this heartbreaking incident.

Trump, now the Republican presidential nominee, will deliver his remarks at 2 p.m. Eastern time during the National Guard Association of the United States’ 146th General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.

With President Biden opting out of reelection, Trump has sharpened his focus on Harris, the current Democratic presidential nominee, scrutinizing her involvement in foreign policy decisions. He is particularly keen on her claim that she was the last person present when the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was made.

“She bragged that she would be the last person in the room, and she was. She was the last person in the room with Biden when the two of them decided to pull the troops out of Afghanistan,” Trump stated during a rally in North Carolina last week. “She had the final vote. She had the final say, and she was all for it.”

In a notable moment during the recent Republican National Convention, family members of the 13 American servicemembers killed in the bombing appeared on stage to express that President Biden had failed to publicly honor their loved ones. This poignant display was seen as a response to ongoing allegations that Trump does not respect veterans. Accusations regarding Trump’s previous references to fallen soldiers as “suckers” and “losers” continue to be denied by him.

Under Trump’s leadership, a peace agreement was forged with the Taliban, aimed at concluding America’s longest conflict and facilitating the return of U.S. troops. Biden has subsequently pointed to this deal as part of his rationale for the withdrawal, suggesting that it limited his options and set in motion the disorder that followed in Afghanistan.

A review conducted by the Biden administration regarding the withdrawal acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies should have commenced earlier. However, it attributed delays to the Afghan government and military, as well as assessments from the U.S. military and intelligence community.

The two top U.S. generals responsible for overseeing the evacuation remarked that there was insufficient planning for the withdrawal. Gen. Mark Milley, then the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, informed lawmakers earlier this year that he had recommended maintaining a residual force of 2,500 troops for support. In contrast, Biden opted for a significantly smaller contingent of 650, which was allocated to protect the U.S. embassy only.

The fallout from the withdrawal continues to echo in the political landscape, shaping the narratives both Trump and Biden are likely to use as they campaign leading up to the next election.