Trump Honors Abbey Gate Fallen Soldiers In Arlington As Biden And Harris Skip Memorial
On the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump attended a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the 13 soldiers who died in the attack. In contrast, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were notably absent from the event, with neither having a public schedule that acknowledged the anniversary. The absence of the sitting president and vice president has sparked outrage among families of the fallen and veterans.
During the ceremony, Trump personally placed wreaths at the graves of the soldiers, including Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss, while speaking with Knauss’s family by phone. Trump later made a statement highlighting the lack of attention given to the tragedy, blaming Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal for the deaths. Trump noted that under his administration, the withdrawal plan was set, but the Biden administration’s poor execution led to the deadly chaos and loss of American lives.
The Biden White House schedule showed only a morning briefing, while Vice President Harris was reportedly in Washington, D.C., holding closed meetings with staff. Her team made no mention of the anniversary in public statements, a move that has drawn criticism from Gold Star families and conservative commentators alike.
Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, voiced his ongoing frustration with the administration’s response. Hoover, who has been outspoken since the bombing, emphasized that more needs to be done to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
Trump’s presence at Arlington and the administration’s absence highlight the sharp divide in how different leaders choose to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. As the country reflects on the events of three years ago, the lack of recognition from the current administration is a point of contention for many Americans.
