Former President Donald Trump is set to deliver a speech at the National Guard Association of the United States’ 146th General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit, where he is expected to focus on his foreign policy achievements and link Vice President Kamala Harris to the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of war. The speech, scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern time, coincides with the third anniversary of the deadly suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans, an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.
In recent appearances, Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has honed in on Harris, the current Democratic presidential nominee, critiquing her involvement in foreign policy decisions within the Biden administration. Trump has emphasized Harris’ statement that she was the final person in the room before President Biden’s choice to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. He has highlighted her purported role in the decision-making process, asserting that she supported the troop withdrawal.
Moreover, Trump has faced criticism for allegedly disrespecting veterans and making derogatory remarks about fallen soldiers, accusations he has adamantly refuted. During his presidency, Trump brokered a peace agreement with the Taliban, aiming to conclude America’s extended military engagement and bring back U.S. troops. Despite this, President Biden contends that the agreement constrained him to withdraw troops, leading to the subsequent upheaval in Afghanistan.
Following a review by the Biden administration of the withdrawal process, it was acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies could have commenced earlier. The delays were attributed to various factors, including the Afghan government, military, and assessments by U.S. military and intelligence agencies. Additionally, top U.S. generals overseeing the evacuation highlighted insufficient planning by the administration.
Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley had reportedly recommended maintaining a residual force of 2,500 troops for support, a suggestion not heeded by Biden, who opted for a significantly smaller force of 650 tasked with securing the U.S. embassy in Afghanistan. The aftermath of the withdrawal has sparked intense scrutiny and debate regarding the decision-making processes and actions leading up to the events in Afghanistan.