Relatives of the 13 American service members who lost their lives during the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan made a poignant appearance at the Republican National Convention. This emotional moment brought back a challenging period of President Biden’s term.
Many Gold Star families have expressed disappointment in Biden for not publicly acknowledging their loved ones. At the convention, one family member stood on stage and mentioned each fallen service member’s name, with the crowd echoing back each name in unison. Christy Shamblin, mother-in-law of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, addressed the attendees, highlighting Biden’s failure to honor their sacrifice and contrasting it with former President Trump’s familiarity with their stories.
The audience responded with chants of “Never forget!” and “U.S.A.!” as Trump and the entire convention stood in support. This display served as an indirect response to Biden’s criticism of Trump and the accusations that Trump lacks respect for veterans.
The tragic events unfolded in August 2021 when 13 U.S. service members and 60 Afghans lost their lives in a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport during frantic evacuation efforts. The families of these fallen heroes have since been thrust into the political spotlight, participating in congressional hearings and media appearances.
While Republicans have blamed Biden for the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, it was actually Trump’s administration that signed the agreement in February 2020. The deal stipulated the withdrawal by May 2021, but Trump left office earlier that year without a clear exit strategy.
The fallout from the withdrawal transcends party lines, with even former Biden supporters like Steve Shurtleff citing it as a reason for Biden to step down. The Biden campaign did not immediately offer a response to the events at the convention.
