Father of Fallen Marine Criticizes Biden Administration

The father of Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover, one of the 13 U.S. service members who lost their lives in the Monastery Gate bombing during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, has harshly criticized the Biden administration. This comes after an Afghan national was reportedly involved in the shooting deaths of two National Guardsmen close to the White House.

In a statement to Fox News Digital regarding the recent shooting, Hoover asserted that it stems directly from the administration’s inability to properly vet Afghan refugees. “This is the fault of the reckless Biden administration,” he expressed. “We had no idea who was coming into this country because they didn’t do the necessary work to vet these individuals. There were so many people evacuated that we just didn’t know who they were.”

He added, “What we’re seeing are mostly young men of combat age who could very well be terrorists. They’ve come to our homeland to cause harm. If only the Biden administration had started vetting earlier instead of rushing the process, things may have turned out differently, including the safe return of our most valued service members.”

As for the shooting incident, the FBI is currently investigating it as a potential act of international terrorism. The suspect, Rahmanullah Rakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan, was apprehended after the attack on National Guard members.

Rakanwal had arrived in the United States in September 2021 during “Operation Welcome Allies,” shortly after the fall of Kabul. He was reportedly involved with various U.S. government agencies, including the CIA, as part of a partner force in Kandahar.

Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe criticized the vetting process, stating, “This individual, along with many others, should never have been permitted to enter our country. Our citizens and military personnel deserve much better than to face the fallout from the Biden administration’s blunders.”

Hoover expressed that the shooting validates the fears of many families like his. “When they evacuated Afghans in those last days, I had no idea who was actually getting on those planes,” he remarked. His comments have stemmed from years of advocating for accountability related to the Abbey Gate bombing that killed his son, Taylor, an 11-year veteran of the Marine Corps.

In 2024, after President Biden claimed that no service members had died during his administration, Hoover expressed his outrage, saying, “I felt disgust and anger at the TV. He never acknowledged our children or their sacrifices.” He mentioned that all families received generic condolence letters from the administration a year after the tragedy, which only added to their grief.

Hoover shared that his frustration is compounded by his inability to meet with Biden. “He doesn’t want anything to do with us, even though he knows we’re right here,” he reflected.

The shooting incident signifies new complications arising from the hasty evacuation. According to Hoover, the ramifications of that decision are continuing to unfold right here in the U.S. Federal officials have indicated that the investigation into the shooting will proceed.

Hoover vowed to keep advocating for answers for the families affected by the Abbey Gate attack, stressing, “This is not going away. We will not be silent.”