US President Donald Trump on Tuesday strongly criticized the 2021 withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan, describing it as the weakest moment in United States history and placing responsibility squarely on former President Joe Biden for what he called a disastrous and deadly exit.
Speaking at the White House, President Trump pointed to the bombing at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport during the final days of the withdrawal, which claimed the lives of 13 American service members, as emblematic of what he described as a failure of leadership and planning.
“The withdrawal from Afghanistan represented the lowest point in our nation’s history,” President Trump said. “Thirteen brave American soldiers were killed in chaos that never should have happened. This tragedy was avoidable.”
President Trump emphasized that while his administration had also intended to end America’s military presence in Afghanistan, it would have been carried out “with strength, control, and dignity,” rather than under the conditions seen in August 2021. He argued that during his presidency, the United States projected clear military and diplomatic power, deterring hostile actors from targeting American forces.
“When America was strong, our enemies knew better than to test us,” Trump said. “There was respect, and there was deterrence.”
The President also sharply criticized the decision to abandon Bagram Air Base, calling it one of the most significant strategic military installations in the region. He noted that the base, with its expansive surrounding territory, provided critical leverage and operational capacity for the United States and its allies.
“Bagram Air Base should never have been abandoned,” Trump stated. “It was a massive, powerful installation with enormous strategic value. Giving it up was a catastrophic mistake.”
In addition, President Trump condemned the large quantity of US military equipment left behind during the withdrawal. Citing US Defense Department estimates that more than $7 billion worth of American military hardware remained in Afghanistan, he called it “shameful” that Taliban forces have since repaired, reused, and publicly displayed US equipment in parades.
“To see American military gear paraded by the Taliban is something no American should ever have to witness,” Trump said. “It’s an embarrassment, and it sends exactly the wrong message to our adversaries.”
The US withdrawal in August 2021 marked the end of America’s longest war, concluding nearly two decades of military involvement in Afghanistan. The exit followed the rapid collapse of the Afghan government as Taliban forces advanced into Kabul, triggering scenes of widespread confusion, panic, and desperation as thousands attempted to flee the country.
President Trump has repeatedly criticized former President Biden over the withdrawal, both during Biden’s term and since returning to the White House, making the issue a central part of his broader critique of the previous administration’s foreign policy.
“The world watched what happened in Afghanistan,” Trump said. “And when America looks weak, the world becomes a more dangerous place. That will never happen on my watch.”
President Trump reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring what he described as American strength, accountability, and respect on the global stage, pledging that future military and foreign policy decisions would prioritize the safety of US service members and the nation’s strategic interests.
