Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech to National Guard soldiers in Michigan on Monday, where he is expected to highlight his foreign policy achievements and criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for her involvement in the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The speech will take place at the National Guard Association of the United States’ 146th General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit.
The speech coincides with the third anniversary of the tragic suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport in 2021, which claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Trump has been focusing on Harris and her role in foreign policy decisions since Biden ended his reelection bid. He has specifically pointed out Harris' statement that she was the last person in the room before Biden made the decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
During a recent rally in North Carolina, Trump criticized Harris for her involvement in the decision-making process, claiming that she had the final say in the matter.
Relatives of the fallen service members appeared at the Republican National Convention last month, accusing Biden of not publicly acknowledging their loved ones. This was seen as a response to allegations that Trump does not respect veterans, which he has denied.
Under Trump's administration, the U.S. signed a peace agreement with the Taliban aimed at ending the long-standing war in Afghanistan. Biden later referenced this agreement when explaining his decision to withdraw troops from the country.
A review conducted by the Biden administration acknowledged that the evacuation from Afghanistan should have started earlier, but attributed the delays to various factors, including the Afghan government, military, and U.S. military and intelligence assessments.
Top U.S. generals involved in the evacuation criticized the administration for inadequate planning. Gen. Mark Milley, the former Joint Chiefs Chairman, revealed that he had recommended keeping a residual force of 2,500 troops, but Biden opted for a much smaller force of 650 to secure the U.S. embassy.
