UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump suggested he may be able to recover the equipment the U.S. military left behind during Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Trump made these comments at the G7 Summit while taking questions from reporters about a forthcoming agreement with Iran to end the war and open the Strait of Hormuz. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs and hinted at taking drastic action if Iran does not comply with proposed restrictions.
In response to a question about how the deal will address Iran's nuclear program, Trump repeatedly said he would "bomb them" if they do not comply. He then transitioned into criticizing Biden's foreign policy record, spotlighting the Democratic former president's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and abandon dozens of military aircraft, thousands of ground vehicles, and more than 300,000 weapons.
"Our country has become the most respected country in the world," Trump said. "Look at what happened in so many different locations. Afghanistan, that horrible retreat that these people made. Leaving equipment behind. They weren't under any pressure. Take your time."
Trump claimed that he would have handled the withdrawal differently, saying "I was going to get out. We were going to get out with dignity and pride. Take 100% of the equipment. I was even taking the tents down. But then [Biden] got in and they just left. They left all the equipment. I may get all that equipment back."
The abandoned equipment has been a point of contention, with the Department of Defense estimating in June 2022 that $7.12 billion worth of military equipment ended up in the hands of the Taliban. The Taliban quickly seized control of the country after American troops departed.
Trump and his allies have long been critical of what they view as Biden's hasty decision to end the war in Afghanistan, which lasted for nearly 20 years. The situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with women and girls repressed, and more than 1 million girls banned from secondary school and university.
The country is also dealing with a hunger crisis, with roughly 17.4 million Afghans at risk for severe food insecurity this year. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with Afghanistan risking the loss of more than 25,000 teachers and healthcare workers due to the new government's restrictions on female employment.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the aftermath of the withdrawal continues to have far-reaching consequences, both domestically and internationally. The implications of this conflict will likely be felt for years to come.
