During a news conference in Chicago, Florida GOP Rep. Mike Waltz marked the three-year anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan by attacking Vice President Kamala Harris' foreign policy record. Waltz criticized Harris' involvement in the decision-making process behind the chaotic withdrawal that occurred in August 2021. He specifically pointed to the Abbey Gate attack, which resulted in the deaths of 13 US military service members, stating that Harris bears responsibility for those deaths.
Waltz expressed his strong disapproval of what he deemed as incompetence and poor decision-making by the White House, emphasizing that such actions should not be forgotten. The news conference, organized by the Trump campaign, featured two digital ads that highlighted Harris' role in the Biden administration's foreign policy. These ads included a clip of Harris expressing her comfort with the outcome of the Afghanistan withdrawal after consulting closely with President Biden.
Furthermore, Waltz criticized the Democratic National Convention for failing to address the Afghanistan withdrawal during their speeches. He noted the absence of any acknowledgment or ownership of the withdrawal debacle by the speakers at the convention, instead focusing heavily on criticizing former President Trump.
Waltz's remarks underscore the ongoing political debate surrounding the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent fallout. The criticism directed at Vice President Harris reflects broader concerns within the Republican Party regarding the Biden administration's foreign policy decisions.
