Pennsylvania:Former US President Donald Trump’s running mate and Ohio Senator JD Vance has upped the ante against Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, saying she “can go to hell” in reference to the Biden administration’s controversial handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. His comments came days after Trump took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Cemetery to honour the 13 US soldiers killed during the withdrawal.
Vance made the remarks at a political rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, after a reporter asked him about reports of an altercation between Trump campaign staff and an Arlington Cemetery official. “It’s astonishing to me that apparently someone at Arlington Cemetery, some staff member, had a minor disagreement with someone and the media turned this into a national news story,” he said.
NPR reported that when a cemetery official tried to block Trump campaign staff from filming and taking photographs in an area where service members are buried, Trump staff “verbally abused and shoved the official aside.” A military spokesperson said the official was “abruptly” shoved aside but declined to press charges. The Trump campaign disputed the report.
‘Kamala Harris is a disgrace’
As he took over for Harris, Vance said 13 innocent Americans had died because she “refused to do her job” as vice president. “Kamala Harris is a disgrace. If we’re going to talk about a story about those 13 brave, innocent Americans who lost their lives, it’s that Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she doesn’t even want to investigate what happened. And she wants to yell at Donald Trump because he ran? She can, she can go to hell,” he said.
Monday marked the third anniversary of the suicide attack at Kabul International Airport that claimed the lives of 13 American soldiers. The attack occurred on August 26, 2021, as American troops were trying to help Americans and Afghans flee the chaos that followed the Taliban takeover, which became one of the most embarrassing moments in American foreign policy under the Biden administration.
Vance later expressed frustration and anger at Harris’ “failure of leadership” when asked about his comments toward her. “Look, sometimes I get frustrated and sometimes I get angry. And I think Kamala Harris’ failure of leadership at Abbey Gate is something to be frustrated and angry about… The fact that Kamala Harris wants to make it an issue when she refuses to show up, refuses to tolerate an investigation, and refuses to even call the families whose children are dead because of her leadership,” he said.
Trump blames Biden and Harris for ‘humiliation’ in Afghanistan
On Monday, Trump addressed the National Guard Association Conference in Detroit with former Democratic lawmaker and Indian-origin leader Tulsi Gabbard, where he criticized Biden and Harris for the “humiliation” caused in Afghanistan through the chaotic withdrawal in 2021 that helped the Taliban return to power after 20 years.
“The humiliation suffered in Afghanistan by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden triggered the collapse of America’s credibility and respect around the world. And the fake news doesn’t want to talk about it. They don’t even talk about the third anniversary, a terrible word to use, but that’s what they call it, an anniversary,” he said.
Harris on Monday defended the Biden administration’s decision to leave Afghanistan, saying the president made the “brave and right decision to end America’s longest war.” “Over the past three years, our administration has proven that we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al Qaeda and ISIS, without deploying troops to combat zones. I will never hesitate to take any action necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people and homeland,” she said in a statement.
(with contributions from Reuters)
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