Republicans in the RNC tend to attack Biden over Afghanistan withdrawal

Gold Star families from Afghanistan are seen during the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

Speakers at the Republican National Convention criticized President Biden for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and his response to the deaths of 13 soldiers in the bombing of Kabul airport.

The RNC played a video of interviews with some of the Gold Star families who lost family members in the 2021 bombing and later brought some of them on stage to hold portraits of the victims.

“There has been a deafening silence from the Biden and Harris administrations,” said Alicia Lopez, a member of the Gold Star family on stage, standing next to her husband Herman.

“Despite our pleas for answers and accountability, they pushed us away and tried to silence us. The Biden administration has not owned up to the poor decisions,” she said. “They have not been transparent about their failures, and their so-called leaders have worked to protect themselves instead of our sons and daughters who swore an oath to defend our country.”

Herman Lopez read the names of all 13 soldiers killed in the Kabul airport bombing, and those in attendance repeated each one’s name aloud. Family members’ speeches included cries of “Never forget!” and “Joe must go!”

“While Joe Biden refused to acknowledge their sacrifice, Donald Trump spent six hours with us in Bedminster,” said Christy Shamblin, who lost her daughter-in-law. “He let us grieve. He let us think about our heroes. Donald Trump knew the names of all our children.”

Biden has defended his withdrawal from Afghanistan, which has faced sharp criticism in light of reported US casualties.

“Let me be clear: The postponement to August 31 is not an arbitrary date, but is intended to save American lives,” Biden said in late August 2021.

“I did not intend to prolong this war forever, nor did I intend to prolong an exit forever. The decision to end military airlift operations at Kabul airport was based on the unanimous recommendation of my civilian and military advisers – the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and all force chiefs and commanders on the ground,” he said.

Other speakers, including political candidates, also used the opportunity to criticize the president for his handling of the withdrawal.

“Think for a minute about Biden’s shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan. When he allowed our enemies to steal billions of dollars worth of our equipment and kill 13 brave American soldiers,” Montana Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy said Tuesday. “To this day, there has been no accountability. None.”

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said in a speech to the RNC on Wednesday that Biden had “pursued one failed policy after another.”

“While President Trump orchestrated an orderly end to the Afghanistan war that left not a single American dead in nearly two years, Biden ordered a chaotic, panic-filled withdrawal that left 13 American soldiers and hundreds of Afghans dead.”