At the Republican National Convention, family members of the 13 American service members who tragically lost their lives during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 took center stage to criticize President Biden’s handling of foreign policy and national security. Cheryl Juels, whose niece Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee was among those killed, expressed her disappointment, stating that the service members were “just kind of left there, hung out to dry.”
During a heartfelt tribute at the convention, the grieving families held up photographs of their fallen loved ones and received a standing ovation from former President Donald J. Trump and thousands of GOP delegates. They expressed their pain and frustration, highlighting the difference in treatment they received from President Biden compared to former President Trump. According to them, President Trump knew their children’s names, stories, and empathized with them, while President Biden’s comments about the withdrawal being an “extraordinary success” caused them deep hurt.
President Biden, on the other hand, has expressed his sorrow over the loss of the troops and has made efforts to honor them by traveling to Dover Air Force Base to receive their remains and meeting privately with their families. However, the families at the convention felt that his actions did not alleviate their pain and criticized him for denying any service member deaths during his administration, hurting them deeply.
Despite Mr. Biden’s efforts, the Republican Party used the situation in Afghanistan to undermine his leadership and paint him as weak and incompetent in handling military operations. While Mr. Trump also faced criticism for his role in negotiating the deal with the Afghan Taliban that set the timeline for America’s exit, the focus at the convention remained on holding President Biden accountable for the tragic events in Afghanistan.
In response to the criticism, the Biden campaign referred requests for comment to a National Security Council spokeswoman, Adrienne Watson, who emphasized President Biden’s deep respect for service members and their families. She reiterated that the country owes them a great deal of gratitude and a debt that can never be fully repaid, pledging to honor their ultimate sacrifice.
Christy Shamblin, Sergeant Gee’s mother-in-law, shared her experience of meeting President Trump, noting that despite her initial expectations of encountering an arrogant politician, she found a man who showed empathy and understanding towards the families of the fallen troops. The emotional testimonies and criticisms at the convention shed light on the ongoing political debate surrounding the events in Afghanistan and their impact on the lives of the service members and their families.
