WASHINGTON — Facing intense scrutiny from congressional Republicans regarding one of the most challenging episodes during Joe Biden’s presidency, Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded to criticisms over the tumultuous U.S. exit from Afghanistan. He attributed significant responsibility for the situation to a withdrawal agreement established by former President Donald Trump with the Taliban in 2020.
Blinken appeared before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Republicans, enduring a barrage of questions and discontent expressed by lawmakers during his final session in office. Although he was scheduled to depart for the Middle East that afternoon, the exchanges with committee members, particularly from Republicans who condemned the disorderly withdrawal as a defining moment of his tenure, postponed his travel plans.
During his testimony, Blinken emphasized that much of the sudden downfall of Afghanistan’s allied government and the chaotic evacuation of U.S. citizens in August 2021 was a consequence of the agreement set forth by Trump. He remarked, “To the extent President Biden faced a choice, it was between ending the war or escalating it,” highlighting that not adhering to Trump’s commitments could have triggered renewed attacks on U.S. forces and allies.
Republican legislators such as McCaul criticized Blinken and the Biden administration for appearing unprepared and disconnected as circumstances deteriorated, accusing them of downplaying evidence that the Taliban would seize control of Afghanistan before the withdrawal’s completion. McCaul described the events as the onset of a flawed foreign policy that had dire global implications, asserting that Blinken should assume responsibility for the withdrawal’s chaos.
“Warnings were clear that it would be disastrous,” stated Rep. Brian Mast from Florida, who will take over the committee chairmanship in the upcoming Congress. This hearing marked the end of Blinken’s diplomatic service under the Biden administration and symbolized nearly four years of conflict with McCaul concerning the conclusion of America’s longest conflict.
Blinken expressed a commitment to learning from the withdrawal experience and taking steps to improve the State Department’s readiness for future crises. “We’ve made the State Department stronger and better able to respond to crises than it was when we found it,” he stated.
The hearing did not unearth any fresh perspectives on the U.S. withdrawal, a topic that has been a source of contention between both political parties for years. Blinken mentioned that an independent review of the withdrawal led by a government-appointed Afghanistan war commission is anticipated to be released in 2026, which could shed more light on the events of summer 2021.
The 20-year U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan effectively dismantled the al-Qaida network behind the September 11, 2001, attacks, a group that the Taliban had provided refuge. However, as U.S. troops began to withdraw under a plan initiated by Trump and executed by Biden, Taliban fighters swiftly overcame the U.S.-backed government, regaining control of the country within months.
The situation escalated tragically when an attack by an extremist group at Kabul airport resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and nearly 200 Afghans, amidst a frantic exodus of Americans and Afghan allies trying to secure passage on the last U.S. military flights.
Blinken noted that all “hundreds” of Americans and dual citizens who were stranded during the rapid evacuation from Afghanistan have been able to leave if they chose. Beginning his testimony, Blinken extended condolences to the families of American service members who lost their lives during the withdrawal. His statements were met with interruptions from protesters, leading security to remove them from the chamber.
In response to assertions by Republicans that he and others disregarded warnings from lower-level officials about the potential dangers of withdrawal, Blinken countered, asserting that the administration anticipated the Afghan government would retain control of Kabul until the end of the year. “This unfolded more quickly than we anticipated, including in the intelligence community,” he explained.
McCaul rebutted, affirming, “Waiting until the last minute is not executing a plan.” Blinken’s testimony came on the heels of a critical report released by House Republicans regarding the withdrawal, which placed the blame squarely on Biden’s administration while downplaying Trump’s involvement, despite his role in negotiating the withdrawal deal. Past evaluations by governmental and private entities have indicated systemic failures across the last four presidential administrations, suggesting that both Biden and Trump shoulder the greatest share of responsibility.
