WATCH: Trump attends wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington to honor service members killed in Afghanistan
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: Former president Donald Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, August 26, to mark the third anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Trump attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier joined by family members of the 13 US soldiers killed in a bombing at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal on August 26, 2021.
This is what a Commander in Chief looks like:pic.twitter.com/LqwV3WMYi6
— Karoline Leavitt (@kleavittnh) August 26, 2024
Donald Trump honors fallen service members, slams 'botched' Afghanistan withdrawal
Donald Trump used the occasion to highlight his criticism of the chaotic pullout and to draw a contrast between his actions and those of Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.
Trump slammed the Biden administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal as the most “embarrassing moment” in US history in a post on Truth Social hours before attending the wreath-laying ceremony.
“This is the third anniversary of the BOTCHED Afghanistan withdrawal, the most EMBARRASSING moment in the history of our Country,” Trump wrote.
“Gross Incompetence – 13 DEAD American soldiers, hundreds of people wounded and dead, AMERICANS and BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT LEFT BEHIND," he added to the post.
What did Donald Trump do during Arlington National Cemetery?
During the ceremony, Donald Trump walked alongside the families of the fallen soldiers as they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Trump listened to taps and repeated the wreath-laying process twice more to honor others, noted The Hill.
Where is Kamala Harris or President Biden? I love our President Trump who performed the wreath
— Mischief 🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿🌹🌿 (@gracieback2) August 26, 2024
ceremony for the thirteen
13 US service members who
died three years ago at the Kabul Airport attack!
pic.twitter.com/DqM54km8Nx
"You don’t take our soldiers out first, you take them out LAST, when all else is successfully done,” Trump further slammed Democrats in the post.
“Russia then invaded Ukraine, Israel was attacked, and the USA became, and is, a laughing stock all over the World," Trump wrote.
Notably, family members of the 13 soldiers killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal spoke at the Republican National Convention, where they criticized Biden and said that Trump had shown more sympathy for their loss.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris commemorate Afghanistan withdrawal, praise sacrifices of fallen Americans
Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris released statements on Monday, August 26, to mark the third anniversary of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Recalling the killing of 13 American service members and more than 100 innocent Afghans in the attack, he said, "Today, and every day, we honor our fallen."
“They embodied the very best of who we are as a nation: brave, committed, selfless. And we owe them and their families a sacred debt we will never be able to fully repay, but will never cease working to fulfill," Biden said.
“Today and every day, I mourn and honor them. My prayers are with their families and loved ones," Kamala Harris wrote.
Three years ago today, outside of Kabul Airport, an ISIS terrorist killed 13 American service members and more than 100 innocent Afghans, and wounded many more.
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 26, 2024
On this solemn day, let us come together as one nation to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the… pic.twitter.com/PJymETLOyf
She also reiterated that Biden “made the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war” and emphasized that the administration has shown it can still eliminate terrorists without deploying troops into combat zones.
Internet reacts to Donald Trump’s Arlington visit
Meanwhile, social media users blasted Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for not attending the ceremony.
Daniel Baldwin wrote on X, "President Trump is honoring the 13 US service members killed in the withdrawal from Afghanistan at Arlington Cemetery. Biden is lying on a beach on vacation. Kamala Harris hasn’t said a word about them."
President Trump is honoring the 13 U.S. service members killed in the withdrawal from Afghanistan at Arlington Cemetery.
— Daniel Baldwin (@baldwin_daniel_) August 26, 2024
Biden is lying on a beach on vacation.
Kamala Harris hasn’t said a word about them. pic.twitter.com/mqhEeb5Bra
Another user wrote, "Where is Biden?! Donald Trump is honoring the 13 US American Heroe's who died in the Kabul, Afghanistan attack three years ago today because of Biden! Trump will show his respect at Arlington National Cemetery."
Where is Biden?!
— Mr.Action (@NewsAction24_7) August 26, 2024
🇺🇸 Donald Trump is honouring the 13 U.S. American Hero’s who died in the Kabul, Afghanistan attack three years ago today because of Biden!
Trump will show his respect at Arlington National Cemetery.
#HarrisWalz2024InALandslide 🤦🏼♂️
pic.twitter.com/8Nw20a1lY6
MAGA political commentator Gunther Eagleman asked, "Where is Joe Biden and Kamala Harris…?"
Where is Joe Biden and Kamala Harris…?
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) August 26, 2024
pic.twitter.com/2jlNSVPErU
"Where in Biden? Where is Harris? This was their fault and are nowhere to be seen. Trump at the wreath ceremony for the Afghanistan 13," asked one more.
Where is Biden? Where is Harris? This was their fault and are no where to be seen.
— Sabrina✝️🇺🇸 (@SimplySweetBri) August 26, 2024
Trump at the wreath ceremony for the Afghanistan 13. pic.twitter.com/wCX75BgVpT
Another wrote, "Isn’t it strange that the guy who apparently called the military “suckers and losers” is the only one at Arlington National Cemetery for the 3rd anniversary of the botched Afghan withdrawal where 13 soldiers died? Where’s Kamala? Where’s Joe?"
Isn’t it strange that the guy who apparently called the military “suckers and losers” is the only one at Arlington National Cemetery for the 3rd anniversary of the botched Afghan withdrawal where 13 soldiers died?
— James Jinnette (@james_jinnette1) August 26, 2024
Where’s Kamala? Where’s Joe? pic.twitter.com/3vIHd443WN
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