Trump Honors Fallen Troops, Slams Biden on Afghanistan Anniversary/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump signed a proclamation honoring 13 U.S. service members killed in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal. He used the anniversary to condemn President Joe Biden’s handling of the exit. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a new review of the withdrawal is underway, with results expected next year.
Afghanistan Anniversary Quick Looks
- Trump signed a proclamation honoring 13 U.S. service members killed in Kabul bombing
- Event marked the 4th anniversary of the Aug. 26, 2021 attack
- Families of the fallen attended, some wearing MAGA hats
- Trump called the attack “one of the dumbest days” in U.S. history
- Biden has previously defended his decisions, citing Trump’s 2020 Taliban agreement
- A 2022 review found both Trump and Biden contributed to the collapse
- Trump previously made the bombing a major campaign theme
- Families of victims also appeared at the 2024 GOP convention
- Vice President JD Vance said Trump’s proclamation “rectifies a wrong”
- Defense Secretary Hegseth says new Pentagon review will be complete by mid-2026
Deep Look: Trump Honors Fallen Troops, Slams Biden on Kabul Bombing Anniversary
WASHINGTON — August 25, 2025 – President Donald Trump on Monday honored the 13 U.S. service members killed during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan four years ago, while forcefully criticizing his predecessor, President Joe Biden, for the deadly events of August 26, 2021.
In a solemn White House ceremony, Trump signed a proclamation honoring the fallen in the Abbey Gate suicide bombing outside Kabul’s airport, where a blast also killed more than 100 Afghan civilians. Roughly 35 relatives of the fallen troops attended the ceremony, one donning a red “Make America Great Again” cap.
Trump used the occasion not only for remembrance but also to reignite his criticism of Biden’s role in the withdrawal.
“That was a terrible day. One of the dumbest days in the history of our country,” Trump said. “And I think it was the worst, and in many ways the most embarrassing day, in the history of our country.”
Revisiting a Divisive Withdrawal
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending America’s longest war, has remained politically contentious. The Biden administration executed the final exit, but it was built on a 2020 deal negotiated by Trump’s administration with the Taliban, which set the withdrawal timeline.
A 2022 government review concluded that decisions made by both Trump and Biden contributed to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s military and the Taliban’s swift takeover. Still, Trump has consistently framed the Kabul bombing as Biden’s failure, making it a centerpiece of his 2024 campaign.
Families of the Fallen at the Center
Families of the 13 service members killed in the attack have become highly visible in U.S. politics. Some appeared on stage at the 2024 Republican National Convention, embracing Trump’s pledge to hold Biden accountable.
This year’s ceremony was intended to shift the focus back to honoring their loved ones. Vice President JD Vance told the families that Trump’s proclamation was “a rectification of a wrong.”
“Biden lost your loved ones through incompetence,” Vance said. “His government never put pen to paper to say we’re grateful for your sacrifice.”
Previous Flashpoint at Arlington
Last year’s third-anniversary remembrance became controversial after a Trump campaign staffer shoved an Arlington National Cemetery employee who tried to prevent the photographing of a Section 60 ceremony. Federal law prohibits campaign activity inside national military cemeteries, but the incident highlighted the increasingly politicized nature of the tragedy.
Biden’s Response
On the 2024 anniversary, Biden honored the fallen in a statement, calling them “patriots in the highest sense” and naming each one. He referenced his longstanding practice of carrying a card with the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The White House has maintained that Biden made the “best available decision” under impossible circumstances, stressing that Trump’s deal with the Taliban left few viable options.
New Pentagon Review
Trump has ordered a new Defense Department review into the Afghanistan withdrawal, signaling his determination to reexamine the event through his administration’s lens. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the review would conclude by mid-2026.
“The military needs to answer for what happened in Afghanistan,” Hegseth said.
The findings could reignite debate over the withdrawal’s planning and execution, as well as the accountability of senior officials in both administrations.
Political Implications
For Trump, the Kabul anniversary serves as both a somber memorial and a political rallying point. By tying Biden directly to the tragedy, Trump seeks to reinforce his campaign message that Democratic leadership endangered U.S. service members.
For families of the fallen, Monday’s proclamation was a moment of official recognition they had long demanded — but the broader debate over responsibility for Afghanistan’s collapse continues to divide Washington.
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