Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) faced backlash on Monday after he blamed former President Donald Trump for President Joe Biden’s disastrous withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021 that resulted in 13 U.S. service members being killed during an ISIS suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
“Trump owns the Afghanistan withdrawal,” Murphy posted on X. “He cut a bad deal with the Taliban to withdraw (he takes credit for it!), forcing Biden to clean it up and making a chaotic exit practically inevitable.”
Murphy made the false claim while responding to remarks that Trump made at the National Guard Association of the United States conference in Detroit.
“Caused by Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, the humiliation in Afghanistan set off the collapse of American credibility and respect all around the world,” Trump told the audience of about 4,000.
President Trump honors the 13 heroes killed in the Harris-Biden botched Afghanistan withdrawal three years ago today 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1KZMHvnV4h
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) August 26, 2024
Biden took full responsibility for the disastrous withdraw during a press conference in January 2022.
“There was no way to get out of Afghanistan, after 20 years, easily,” Biden said. “Not possible no matter when you did it. And I make no apologies for what I did.”
Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris was asked about the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan a few months before it happened.
“Joe Biden just made a really big decision—Afghanistan—were you the last person in the room?” asked CNN host Dana Bash.
“Yes,” Harris responded.
“And you feel comfortable?” Bash asked.
Harris responded, “I do.”
Kamala Harris was the last person in the room when the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan was ordered, leading to 13 American service members being killed. Harris bragged about her role on-camera. pic.twitter.com/jGEWx68pff
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) August 26, 2024
There was significant pushback to Murphy’s false claim that Trump was responsible for Biden’s disastrous withdraw.
“F*ck you. Seriously,” said the popular YouTube gun channel Military Arms Channel. “This is disgusting behavior. You know full well Trump had nothing to do with Biden ignoring his generals and doing the withdraw the way he did. That’s 100% on him. Hell, he didn’t have to keep Trumps timeline if he didn’t want to, but he did.”
Political commentator Stephen L. Miller wrote: “That wasn’t Trump who closed the airfield and opened up the prisons which led to the bottlenecking of people falling off wheelwells, and 13 soldiers being murdered.”
“This is a truly vile attempt to deny responsibility,” said RealClearPolitics senior writer Mark Hemingway. “Biden was not ‘forced’ to do anything. It’s his fault.”
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) posted on X: “Umm…Bush and Obama also negotiated with the Taliban. The Taliban didn’t live up their end of the deal with them … OR Trump.”
“But Biden withdrew UNCONDITIONALLY… pulling our military before our civilians and allies,” he added. “Your defense of the idiotic and catastrophic won’t wear well, Senator.”
