Trump marks the fourth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing by signing a proclamation honoring the fallen
President Donald Trump on Monday commemorated the fourth anniversary of the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate during the chaotic end of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghans. He signed a proclamation honoring the fallen while surrounded by about 35 family members, one of whom wore a Make America Great Again hat. The ceremony gave Trump a platform to again criticize his successor, President Joe Biden, over the withdrawal.
The Aug. 26, 2021 attack at Kabul’s airport area remains a defining moment for the U.S. war in Afghanistan. Trump called the day “one of the dumbest days in the history of our country” and “the worst day, and in many ways the most embarrassing day, in the history of our country.” The president’s remarks come as Tuesday marks the anniversary of the bombing alongside the broader rescue mission that followed.
The White House has pointed to the withdrawal agreement negotiated with the Taliban in 2020 as the framework for the exit, a timeline that continued under Biden. A 2022 government-appointed inspector general’s review concluded that decisions by both the Trump and Biden administrations contributed to the rapid collapse of Afghanistan’s military and the Taliban’s swift takeover.
Trump has repeatedly tied the tragedy to his political messaging during the 2024 campaign, and relatives of some of the service members who died joined him at events at the Republican National Convention in July 2024. On the third anniversary, Trump was invited to Arlington National Cemetery’s Section 60 by family members to mark the casualties of the Afghanistan and broader wars.
The ceremony on Monday also featured Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance, who described the proclamation as a rectification of a wrong because Biden “lost your loved ones through incompetence” and because the administration did not publicly acknowledge the sacrifices made by those who served.
Trump has directed a new Defense Department review of the withdrawal, with officials suggesting a report should be completed by the middle of next year. Hegseth indicated that the military owes the public an accounting of what transpired in Afghanistan.
Commentary and context
– The event highlights the ongoing political fight over accountability for the withdrawal, with Trump framing the anniversary as evidence of a failed policy and Biden’s leadership.
– The proclamation and accompanying remarks are part of a broader effort to honor fallen service members while continuing to scrutinize the decision-making surrounding the Afghanistan exit.
– The administration’s emphasis on a forthcoming DoD review indicates a push for transparency and formal review of the actions taken by U.S. officials and military leaders during the withdrawal process.
Summary
Trump used the fourth anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing to honor the 13 service members who died and to criticize Biden’s handling of the withdrawal, while signaling that a new Defense Department review is underway to assess what happened.
Hopeful angle
The ceremony and the renewed review effort underscore a broader commitment to honoring those who served and to learning from the past to prevent future missteps, with a focus on accountability and transparent addressing of complex wartime decisions.
Logical explanation
By centering the commemoration on the fallen and announcing a fresh review, supporters frame the move as both remembrance and accountability, aiming to provide closure for families and the public while potentially shaping future policy and oversight.