Trump honors 13 U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan withdrawal

Donald Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday to pay tribute to the 13 Americans killed three years ago in a bombing outside the Kabul airport during the Afghanistan evacuation. The former president laid a series of wreaths at the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier and then paid a private visit to section 60, the area of the cemetery where those killed in Afghanistan are buried.

He was joined by family members of some of the U.S. soldiers who were killed in a bombing at Abbey Gate. He was also accompanied by two Marines who were injured in the attack: Cpl. Kelsee Lainhart, who was paralyzed in the attack and now uses a wheelchair, and Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who lost his right arm and left leg. The visit also enabled him to tie his rival Kamala Harris to what he calls ‘the most embarrassing moment in our history.’ Trump has repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden was in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Monday, starting the second week of his summer vacation.

The visit also allowed Trump to counter reports he doesn’t respect veterans and has previously referred to slain World War II soldiers as suckers and losers, reports Trump has denied. The former president laid three wreaths at the tomb, two honoring Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover and Sgt. Nicole Gee – two Marines killed in the bombing – and another wreath dedicated to all 13 service members who were killed in the attack. He also took flowers to the grave of SSG Ryan Knauss – a Marine killed in the attack – and spoke to Knauss’ parents who couldn’t be there, according to his campaign.

Spotted with Trump at the event was Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman who is now helping Trump with his debate prep. Monday marks three years since the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, which killed 13 American service members and more than 100 Afghans. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

‘This is the third anniversary of the BOTCHED Afghanistan withdrawal, the most EMBARRASSING moment in the history of our Country,’ Trump posted on Truth Social. ‘Gross Incompetence – 13 DEAD American soldiers, hundreds of people wounded and dead, AMERICANS and BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND.’

Some of the relatives of those killed appeared on stage at the Republican National Convention last month, saying Biden had never publicly named their loved ones. After Biden ended his re-election bid, Trump has endeavored to tie Harris to some of the administration’s most-criticized moments. He’s noted Harris has said she was the last person in the room before Biden made the decision on Afghanistan.

The Biden administration conducted a two-year internal review of the evacuation and found that U.S. officials should have started the evacuation earlier, but placed extensive blame on Trump, Biden’s predecessor in the Oval Office. Biden’s team cited an agreement Trump made with the Taliban to pull forces from Afghanistan. The White House released separate statements Monday by Harris and Biden on the attack.

Harris said she mourns the 13 U.S. service members who were killed. ‘My prayers are with their families and loved ones. My heart breaks for their pain and their loss,’ she said. She said she honors and remembers all Americans who served in Afghanistan. ‘As I have said, President Biden made the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war. Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones,’ she said.

‘I will never hesitate to take whatever action necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people.’ Biden also paid tribute to the fallen. ‘Three years ago, an ISIS suicide bomber launched an attack of deliberate evil at Abbey Gate outside of Kabul Airport—killing 13 American service members and more than 100 innocent Afghans. Today, and every day, we honor our fallen,’ he said. ‘These 13 Americans – and the many more that were wounded – were patriots in the highest sense,’ Biden said in the statement.

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