Trump remembered the victims of the attack in Afghanistan during Biden’s withdrawal.

President Donald Trump signed an official proclamation at the White House on Monday that commemorates the anniversary of the terrorist attack that occurred during the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan in 2021. In the tragic episode, 13 members of the United States military lost their lives, with more than 30 wounded.  

The emotional event was marked by the presence of the families of the soldiers who fell during the withdrawal and by harsh criticism of the government of former Democratic president Joe Biden.

"We remember these 13 great souls, but we also remember the soldiers who were seriously wounded, around 32," Trump said as he signed the proclamation. "We understand that this should never have happened. It should never have been allowed to happen."

How the attack at Abbey Gate happened

The attack took place at the entrance to Hamid Karzai International Airport in the city of Kabul and was carried out by a terrorist militant member of the Islamic State of Khorasan (in English, ISIS-K) on August 26, 2021. 

Prior to the tragedy, former president Biden had announced the withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan after 20 consecutive years of military presence, causing thousands of Afghans and foreign citizens to attempt to flee the country following the sudden and rapid takeover by the Taliban.

The attack resulted in 13 United States service members killed and dozens wounded, both among troops and Afghan civilians, and was the result of the disastrous military withdrawal ordered by the Democratic administration.

The ceremony featured strong criticism of Biden

During the ceremony, several officials from the current Trump administration did not hold back criticism of Biden's management. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth went further by linking the airport attack to subsequent events in the geopolitical arena.

According to Hegseth, the perception of military weakness projected by the United States during the withdrawal from Afghanistan may have influenced Russian president Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. "Putin saw how incompetent our military was under Biden," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Sean Parnell, Pentagon spokesperson and Afghanistan war veteran, announced that he is leading a thorough investigation into the events at Abbey Gate. The objective, he explained, is to clarify how the attack was allowed to occur and what tactical or intelligence errors contributed to the tragedy.

Repercussions of the event and the signing of the proclamation

The commemoration event at the White House also carried significant symbolic weight. Many of those present interpreted it as an attempt to provide the official recognition that never came from the Biden administration.

Trump used the occasion to consolidate himself as a leader concerned about the Armed Forces and willing to confront what he described as his successor's catastrophic mistakes.

In contrast, former president Biden still faces questions over the execution of the withdrawal, although he has defended his decision as necessary to end an endless war.