President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have yet to make any contact with the Gold Star families of the 13 service members who perished in the tragic Abbey Gate bombing during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal three years ago.
On Monday afternoon, three years after the attack, members of these families joined a call with GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, representatives from the Trump campaign, and journalists
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The suicide bombing carried out by an ISIS-K member at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members—11 Marines, one Navy sailor, and one Army soldier—as well as 18 additional U.S. service members being injured. Over 150 civilians also lost their lives in the attack.
Former President Trump honored the 13 fallen servicemembers with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday morning. In contrast, President Biden and Vice President Harris did not attend or hold any similar events to commemorate the victims.
Gold Star father Mark Schmitz criticized the administration’s avoidance of the Afghanistan withdrawal crisis, stating, “I’m not surprised in the least bit that neither one of them would show up for this event.” He further remarked that “it is pretty obvious that when things get tough, they go running,” calling the absence “another spit in the face to the 13 families.” Schmitz praised Trump’s attendance at the event, describing it as “genuine.”
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“I don’t view this as part of his political campaign at all,” Schmitz stated. “He has consistently promised to stand by us—since our initial meeting—and he has always kept that promise.”
Schmitz’s 20-year-old son, U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, was among those killed in the attack.
Gold Star Aunt Cheryl Juels, who attended the Arlington National Cemetery ceremony, expressed skepticism about the sincerity of Biden and Harris’s statements. “It doesn’t matter what they say,” Juels remarked. “It doesn’t come across as genuine.”
Juels, who is the aunt of fallen Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole Ghee, noted that neither Biden nor Harris had reached out to any of the families. “Kamala Harris has never made contact. She has been supportive of Biden throughout,” Juels added.
Juels praised Trump for his ongoing efforts to connect with the families. “Trump has been the only one who has repeatedly reached out to us and to all 13 families. His presence today, honoring our loved ones, and his dedication to this ceremony, is deeply appreciated,” she said.
“We need President Trump back in office. He is the only president who has effectively ensured the safety of our servicemembers. We fully support him.”
Juels also affirmed her commitment to supporting Trump’s return to office to ensure the protection of those serving the country. “We’ll do whatever it takes to get him back in power to keep our men and women safe,” she said.
TV5s Digital had earlier reported that the suicide bomber responsible for the attack had been released from Bagram Air Base on August 15, 2021, following the Taliban’s takeover of the facility.
