Donald Trump visited Arlington Nationwide Cemetery on Monday to pay tribute to the 13 Individuals killed three years in the past in a bombing exterior the Kabul airport throughout the Afghanistan evacuation.
The previous president laid a sequence of wreaths on the Tomb of the Uknown Soldier after which paid a non-public go to to part 60, the realm of the cemetery the place these killed in Afghanistan are buried.
He was joined by relations of a number of the U.S. troopers who have been killed in a bombing at Abbey Gate. He was additionally was accompanied by two Marines who have been injured in assault: Cpl. Kelsee Lainhart, who was paralyzed within the assault and now makes use of a wheelchair, and Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, who misplaced his proper arm and left leg.
The go to additionally enabled him to tie his rival Kamala Harris to what he calls ‘probably the most embarrassing second in our historical past.’ Trump has repeatedly criticized President Joe Biden’s dealing with of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden was in Rehoboth Seashore, Delaware, on Monday, beginning the second week of his summer season trip.
The go to additionally allowed Trump to counter stories he would not respect veterans and has beforehand referred to slain World Warfare II troopers as suckers and losers, stories Trump has denied.
Donald Trump lays a wreath alongside Marine Cpl. Kelsee Lainhart (Ret.), who was injured on the Abbey Gate Bombing
The previous president laid three wreaths on the tomb, two honoring Employees Sgt. Taylor Hoover and Sgt. Nicole Gee – two Marines killed within the bombing – and one other wreath devoted to all 13 service members who have been killed within the assault.
He additionally took flowers to the grave of SSG Ryan Knauss – a Marine killed within the assault – and spoke to Knauss’ dad and mom who could not be there, in accordance with his marketing campaign.
Noticed with Trump on the occasion was Tulsi Gabbard, the previous Democratic congresswoman who’s now serving to Trump together with his debate prep.
Monday marks three years for the reason that Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai Worldwide Airport, which killed 13 American service members and greater than 100 Afghans. The Islamic State group claimed accountability for the assault.
‘That is the third anniversary of the BOTCHED Afghanistan withdrawal, probably the most EMBARRASSING second within the historical past of our Nation,’ Trump posted on Fact Social.
‘Gross Incompetence – 13 DEAD American troopers, a whole lot of individuals wounded and useless, AMERICANS and BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND.’
Among the kin of these killed appeared on stage on the Republican Nationwide Conference final month, saying Biden had by no means publicly named their family members.
After Biden ended his re-election bid, Trump has endeavored to tie Harris to a number of the administration’s most-criticized moments. He is famous Harris has stated she was the final individual within the room earlier than Biden made the choice on Afghanistan.
The Biden administration carried out a two-year inner evaluation of the evacuation and discovered that U.S. officers ought to have began the evacuation earlier, however positioned intensive blame on Trump, Biden’s predecessor within the Oval Workplace.
Biden’s group cited an settlement Trump made with the Taliban to tug forces from Afghanistan.
President Biden lays flowers on the tomb of SSG Ryan Knauss
Bob Quackenbush, prime left, deputy chief of workers for Arlington Nationwide Cemetery, and Donald Trump watch the altering of the guard on the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery
The White Home launched separate statements Monday by Harris and Biden on the assault.
Harris stated she mourns the 13 U.S. service members who have been killed.
‘My prayers are with their households and family members. My coronary heart breaks for his or her ache and their loss,’ she stated.
She stated she honors and remembers all Individuals who served in Afghanistan.
‘As I’ve stated, President Biden made the brave and proper resolution to finish America’s longest warfare. Over the previous three years, our Administration has demonstrated we are able to nonetheless get rid of terrorists, together with the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, with out troops deployed into fight zones,’ she stated.
‘I’ll by no means hesitate to take no matter motion essential to counter terrorist threats and defend the American individuals.’
Biden additionally paid tribute to the fallen.
‘Three years in the past, an ISIS suicide bomber launched an assault of deliberate evil at Abbey Gate exterior of Kabul Airport—killing 13 American service members and greater than 100 harmless Afghans. At this time, and day-after-day, we honor our fallen,’ he stated.
‘These 13 Individuals – and the numerous extra that have been wounded – have been patriots within the highest sense,’ Biden stated within the assertion.
