Former President Donald Trump is blasting President Joe Biden over the collapse of Afghanistan’s government and the rush to evacuate American workers and allies from the country.
In a statement on Sunday, Trump said, “It is time for Joe Biden to resign in disgrace for what he has allowed to happen in Afghanistan, along with the tremendous surge in COVID, the Border catastrophe, the destruction of energy independence, and our crippled economy.”
He added in his baseless claims of widespread fraud in the presidential election, “It shouldn’t be a big deal, because he wasn’t elected legitimately in the first place!”
Read the statement below:
#BREAKING: Fmr. President Trump calls on Biden to resign
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 15, 2021
"It is time for Joe Biden to resign in disgrace…it shouldn't be a big deal, because he wasn't elected legitimately in the first place!" pic.twitter.com/hmhDlY8ZpK
Trump’s statement comes as Taliban fighters entered Kabul, Afghanistan, as the U.S.-backed president fled the country.
The Associated Press reports that Biden administration officials were surprised by the rapid pace with which the Taliban took control of large swaths of the country.
The New York Times notes that as the U.S. began to withdraw, “Afghan security forces swiftly collapsed, often surrendering without firing a shot. Many accepted Taliban offers of safe passage and cash, often relayed by village elders, and abandoned weapons and equipment confiscated by the Taliban.”
As the Taliban took control of Kabul, thousands of Afghans flocked to Hamid Karzai International Airport, hoping to flee the country.
In a separate statement on Monday, Trump said, “First Joe Biden surrendered to COVID and it has come roaring back. Then he surrendered to the Taliban, who has quickly overtaken Afghanistan and destroyed confidence in American power and influence. The outcome in Afghanistan, including the withdrawal, would have been totally different if the Trump Administration had been in charge.”
“Who or what will Joe Biden surrender to next? Someone should ask him, if they can find him,” he added.
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer told CNN on Monday that Biden has been “deeply engaged in all of the policy conversations” about Afghanistan.
When asked why Biden has not delivered public remarks about the situation, Finer said, “The president has spoken to this extensively, and I expect that he will speak to it again soon.”
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer says President Joe Biden has been "deeply engaged" on all Afghanistan policy matters.
— New Day (@NewDay) August 16, 2021
"I expect that he will speak [about Afghanistan] soon," he adds. pic.twitter.com/l1COmjYOV5
On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. During an appearance on CNN, he said, “Remaining in Afghanistan for another one, five, 10 years was not in the national interest.”
And in an interview with ABC News, Blinken noted that Biden had to make a “tough decision” after the Trump administration created a May 1 deadline to withdraw U.S. forces from the country.
“If the president had decided to stay, all gloves would have been off. We would have been back at war with the Taliban,” he said.
