On the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal, Donald Trump attended a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the 13 soldiers who lost their lives. The former president’s presence contrasted sharply with the absence of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who were criticized for failing to attend the ceremony.
Trump laid wreaths at the graves of the fallen soldiers, including Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, and spoke with the families of the deceased. In his remarks following the event, Trump reiterated that the tragic deaths were a result of Biden’s mismanagement of the withdrawal. Trump noted that while he had set the date for the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, the Biden administration failed to plan adequately, leading to the loss of lives and the abandonment of military equipment that is now in Taliban hands.
Vice President Harris’s schedule showed that she was in Washington, D.C., holding closed-door meetings, with no mention of the anniversary. The White House schedule for Biden also reflected a quiet day, with only a morning briefing listed. This lack of participation has led to renewed criticism from families of the fallen, many of whom feel the administration has not done enough to acknowledge the significance of the day.
Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, expressed his frustration with how the situation was handled, both during the withdrawal and in the years since. He emphasized the need for better leadership and more accountability to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The stark difference between Trump’s participation and the absence of Biden and Harris underscores the ongoing political divide in how the country remembers and honors those who served and sacrificed.
