Former President Donald Trump has launched a scathing critique of the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, describing it as a display of "weakness and incompetence."

Speaking at an event in Asheboro, North Carolina, Trump voiced his strong disapproval of the 2021 pullout, which he characterized as "the most humiliating event in the history of our country."

According to Just The News, Trump's remarks came during the Democratic National Convention, serving as part of the Republican counterprogramming efforts.

The former president focused on what he perceived as critical errors in the withdrawal process and the subsequent consequences for both the United States and Afghanistan.

Trump's Critique Of The Withdrawal Strategy

Trump's address highlighted several aspects of the withdrawal that he found particularly troubling.

He pointed to the tragic images of Afghans falling from U.S. cargo planes and the release of prisoners from Bagram Air Base as examples of the mishandling of the situation. The former president expressed deep concern over the loss of American lives during the evacuation.

Trump also emphasized what he saw as a strategic error in the withdrawal process. He argued that the decision to remove military forces before civilian personnel was a crucial mistake, stating, "I'd take the military out last, but they took it out first, and then we left hostages." According to Trump, this approach led to the abandonment of valuable military equipment and strategic positions.

The former president drew attention to the current state of affairs in Afghanistan, noting that the Taliban had begun selling American military equipment left behind. He described the spectacle of Taliban forces parading captured U.S. military vehicles as a source of national embarrassment.

Contrasting Leadership Styles And Outcomes

Trump used his speech to draw stark contrasts between his administration's approach to Afghanistan and that of the current leadership.

He asserted that under his guidance, the United States was making progress in Afghanistan without recent combat casualties. Trump stated:

Under my leadership, we were getting out of Afghanistan, but we were going to get out with dignity, pride and with strike. When I left office, we had not lost a single servicemember in the combat in Afghanistan in more than 18 months, and then we had that horrible day where we lost so many and so many were so badly hurt. We lost so many great people that day. Nobody talks about the people that were so badly injured, they never mentioned them. I always mention them.

The former president emphasized what he perceived as a decline in America's global standing following the withdrawal.

He argued that adversaries were wary of challenging the United States during his tenure, a situation he believes has changed under the current administration.

Republican Response To The Democratic Convention

Trump's event in Asheboro was part of a broader Republican effort to counter the Democratic National Convention's messaging.

The day's theme for the Republican response focused on national security, with other GOP figures also addressing the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Representative Mike Waltz of Florida participated in this counterprogramming effort, speaking at a press conference at Trump Tower in Chicago earlier in the day. The coordinated Republican response aimed to keep the Afghanistan withdrawal and its aftermath in the public discourse during the Democratic convention.

Trump's criticism extended beyond the immediate aftermath of the withdrawal. He expressed concern about the strategic implications of abandoning Bagram Air Base, suggesting that China now occupies the facility.

The former president highlighted the base's proximity to Chinese nuclear facilities as a missed opportunity for maintaining a strategic presence in the region.

Conclusion

Trump's address in Asheboro served as a platform for sharp criticism of the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal. The former president painted a picture of a mismanaged exit that resulted in loss of life, abandonment of valuable resources, and a diminished global standing for the United States. By contrasting his approach with that of the current administration, Trump sought to highlight what he sees as a significant failure in foreign policy and military strategy.