Biden Criticized for Afghanistan Withdrawal
On Monday, former Justice Department spokesman Anthony Corey expressed concerns over President Joe Biden’s leadership in light of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Speaking to NBC News, Corey asserted that the administration has not taken accountability for the turmoil that occurred during the 2021 evacuation, which tragically resulted in the deaths of several U.S. troops. Many officials involved have either resigned or distanced themselves from the operation.
During his appearance on “Meet the Press Now,” Corey noted that Biden’s political downside began long before the withdrawal, citing ongoing concerns about his age and stamina as the 2024 campaign unfolded. He mentioned, “I think what Hunter Biden wasn’t saying is that people were beginning to lose confidence in my beloved Joe Biden.” Corey himself was part of the administration during that tumultuous time in August 2021.
He suggested that Biden should have considered stepping aside after the 2022 midterms, pointing out that voters initially supported him because of their confidence in his capabilities.
“People voted for Biden because of their abilities,” Corey explained, adding that this support may have been misplaced. “And I think what they gave them that year…gave them a bit more confidence to the Biden team than they should have.” He believes this was the pivotal moment for Biden to bow out.
Corey contested the notion that age and travel fatigue were the reasons behind Biden’s struggles in the 2024 election. Rather, he pointed out that it was a growing lack of confidence in the President’s abilities that swayed voter sentiment, independent of his message or agenda.
He remarked, “There’s a lot of things that could be true here. So, he was 81 years old and he made two trips from Europe. Given that, that’s not why he lost the race. You can have the best message in the world.”
In a separate rant, Hunter Biden has recently lashed out at various Democratic figures he believes contributed to his father’s decline in support, including George Clooney, urging the President to step aside, and CNN’s Jake Tapper, who released a book alleging a cover-up within the Biden administration.
A report from the Justice Department’s Inspector General, issued in June, disclosed that 55 Afghan evacuees on terrorist watchlists had entered the U.S. during the chaotic withdrawal led by the Biden administration. It was noted that standard screening procedures were bypassed in the hurried evacuation.
The report concluded that this rapid withdrawal resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and highlighted inadequate review procedures for Afghan evacuees. Biden’s order for a complete military withdrawal in August 2021 was notably impacted by the swift collapse of the Afghan government, leading to a chaotic rescue of thousands.
