The adviser, who played a key role in shaping Trump’s foreign policy, broke his silence to discuss the controversial withdrawal that left both allies and enemies scratching their heads. According to him, the seeds of the chaotic pullout were sown long before President Biden took office. The adviser argued that Trump’s administration, in its rush to end America’s longest war, made critical decisions that ultimately set the stage for the disastrous scenes that unfolded in Kabul in August 2021.
One of the key points made by the adviser was the peace deal Trump’s team struck with the Taliban in February 2020. While it was hailed as a diplomatic victory at the time, the agreement has since come under intense scrutiny. Critics argue that it emboldened the Taliban, giving them legitimacy on the international stage and setting a timeline for U.S. withdrawal that was too hasty to be realistically achieved without significant risks.
The deal required the U.S. to withdraw all its forces by May 2021, in exchange for vague promises from the Taliban to prevent terrorist groups from operating on Afghan soil and to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government. However, the adviser noted that these promises were not accompanied by any enforceable mechanisms, leaving the U.S. with little leverage as the withdrawal date approached.
The adviser also highlighted Trump’s decision to reduce U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan to just 2,500 by the time he left office. While this move was consistent with Trump’s long-stated goal of ending “endless wars,” it left the incoming Biden administration with limited military options. The reduced troop presence, the adviser claimed, made it nearly impossible to conduct an orderly and secure withdrawal, especially as the Taliban began its rapid advance across the country.
Moreover, the adviser suggested that the Trump administration’s approach to Afghanistan was marked by a lack of coordination and long-term planning. While Trump was eager to fulfill his campaign promise to bring American troops home, the adviser argued that this goal overshadowed the need for a carefully managed exit strategy. As a result, key details were left unresolved, and the Biden administration was left to pick up the pieces.
However, the adviser also acknowledged that the Biden administration’s handling of the final stages of the withdrawal was far from flawless. He pointed to the decision to abandon Bagram Air Base, the lack of clear communication with Afghan allies, and the failure to anticipate the speed of the Taliban’s advance as critical missteps that contributed to the chaotic scenes at Kabul airport.
Despite these criticisms, the adviser was clear in his assessment that Trump’s decisions were a significant factor in the outcome. “The administration laid the groundwork for this withdrawal,” he said, “and that groundwork was inherently flawed.”
As the debate over the Afghanistan withdrawal continues, the adviser’s comments add a new layer of complexity to the discussion. While Biden has faced the brunt of the criticism for the chaotic exit, the adviser’s remarks suggest that the roots of the disaster go deeper, tracing back to decisions made long before the final evacuation began.
