On Monday, the third anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate terror bombing at the Kabul airport was marked.
This tragic event, which occurred during President Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan, claimed the lives of 13 American servicemembers and over 150 Afghans, leaving dozens more injured. The observance of this somber anniversary was notably absent from the public schedules of both President Biden, who was vacationing in Delaware, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who was reportedly avoiding the press in Washington. This absence was highlighted during a phone briefing with reporters led by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby.
According to Gateway Pundit, when questioned about the lack of public commemoration by the President and Vice President, Kirby suggested that the families of the fallen had extended a personal invitation to former President Trump, but not to Biden or Harris. Trump attended a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery on Monday morning, where he was joined by several Gold Star families and survivors of the Abbey Gate attack.
While President Biden and Vice President Harris did not publicly commemorate the anniversary, they each issued separate statements on Monday. Kirby, during his off-camera phone briefing, addressed the issue of the separate statements and the absence of public events, stating, "There are many ways that we as a nation and our leaders can observe the third anniversary of Abbey Gate."
Kirby went on to explain that while Trump's wreath-laying at Arlington was one way to recognize the sacrifice and loss, there were other ways to honor the fallen. He suggested that the current administration was working diligently, albeit without much public attention or fanfare, to ensure that the families of the fallen and those injured in the attack received the support they needed.
Kirby also highlighted the administration's commitment to the military and veterans, citing initiatives such as Joining Forces and the PACT Act. He emphasized that while these efforts might not always be visible or headline-grabbing, they were ongoing and demonstrated the administration's deep respect and admiration for those who have served in uniform.
Meanwhile, former President Trump's observance at Arlington National Cemetery was described as a stirring tribute. He participated in three wreath-laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, alongside family members of the fallen and survivors of the Abbey Gate attack. Among those present was Iraq war veteran, former Congressman, and current Army Reserve Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard, who appeared visibly moved by the ceremony.
In a subsequent Fox News interview, Gabbard spoke about her experience at Arlington and her endorsement of President Trump. She revealed that Trump had spent hours meeting with the families at Arlington, a gesture that resonated with many. Trump also visited the graves of the fallen, a poignant reminder of the human cost of the conflict in Afghanistan.
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