PRESIDENT TRUMP: Early this morning, Tulsi and I were at Arlington National Cemetery with the families of servicemembers who lost their lives in the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Today marks the 3-year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Abbey Gate that left 13 American servicemembers dead, dozens more badly wounded, with many innocent civilians also killed and injured. We will never forget those brave warriors who made the supreme sacrifice for our country—they will live in our hearts FOREVER. And to all the Gold Star families, our gratitude is everlasting. We will honor their memory by restoring a government that puts the American People FIRST.
Video transcript
early this morning, Kelsey and I were at Arlington National Cemetery with the families of service members who lost their lives in the catastrophic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Not that we withdrew, but the way they did it, we were going to do it with dignity and strength. We were in the process of getting out. We would have never given up Bagram, one of the biggest air bases in the world, one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. We gave it up, we gave it, we gave them everything. China took it over. China now occupies it. Can you imagine? The longest, most powerful runways, I think eight feet of concrete down, and we gave it all up. Spent billions and billions of dollars years ago building it, one hour away, and we're gone, and now China occupies it. Today marks the three-year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Abigay. Now, we say Abigay, a lot of people don't know what that means. It means Afghanistan that left 13 American service members dead, dozens more badly wounded, and many innocent civilians also killed and injured, hundreds of people killed. Never been anything like it. The wrong base, shouldn't have taken the soldiers out first, should have taken the soldiers out last. That's where you'd want to be. They took the soldiers out first, and they had a field day at our expense and our reputation. We will never forget those brave warriors who made the supreme sacrifice for our country. They will live in our hearts forever, and to all the Gold Star families, our gratitude is everlasting, will be everlasting always. We will honor their memory by restoring a government that puts the American people first.
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