Harris and Trump Clash Over Afghanistan

Vice President Kamala Harris defended President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan, asserting that it was a move that four previous presidents had contemplated but failed to execute. She emphasized that the withdrawal saved $300 million a day that was previously spent on maintaining the U.S. presence in Afghanistan.

Harris criticized former President Donald Trump for his role in the withdrawal process, accusing him of negotiating a deal with the Taliban, which she described as a “terrorist” organization. “Trump calls himself a deal-maker, yet even his national security adviser deemed the deal weak and disastrous,” Harris said. “He bypassed the Afghan government and negotiated directly with the Taliban, securing the release of 5,000 Taliban members. What’s more, he invited the Taliban to Camp David—a place of profound significance to Americans—demonstrating a disregard for the responsibilities and respect due to the office of President.”

In response, Trump defended his actions, highlighting the context of escalating violence. “During that period, the Taliban was killing our soldiers, often using snipers,” Trump said. “I engaged with the Taliban because they were the primary combatants. I warned their leader, Abdul, that if the killings continued, there would be consequences. For 18 months, we managed to keep our soldiers safe. The agreement, brokered by Mike Pompeo, was effective in bringing our troops home without further casualties. However, it was marred by the abandonment of $85 billion worth of military equipment and left many Americans behind. The agreement failed because the Taliban did not uphold their end of the bargain,” Trump added.