Relatives of 13 U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan during Biden’s disastrous 2021 withdrawal told The Washington Post on Friday they were infuriated but not surprised by the president’s disrespect in Thursday’s debate, when he falsely claimed that no service members had died overseas under Biden’s command.
In one of countless low points in his presidential showdown with President Donald Trump, Biden appears to have forgotten about the 16 soldiers killed in attacks overseas during his time in the White House, including 13 in Kabul on Aug. 26, 2021, and three killed in Jordan just five months ago.
“The truth is, I’m the only president this century, this decade, that hasn’t had a soldier die anywhere in the world. [Trump] “I did,” Biden said.
The remarks shocked many across the country, but the horrific blunder particularly hit home for Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in violent attacks on U.S. troops since Biden took office in January 2021, said Mark Schmitz, whose son, Marine Corporal Jared Schmitz, was among the 13 people killed in Kabul.
“My phone was ringing for about 20 minutes after the call came in and we were all in shock. Poor guy, there were kids in the next room and I ended up having to apologise to them for my language,” he told The Post. “I had to control myself not to stick my fist through the TV.
“I went beyond anger to a sense of lack of respect, and that’s all we’ve got from this president,” he added.
For Steve Nikoy, whose son, Marine Corporal Kareem Nikoy, was also killed in the horrific explosion, Biden’s gaffe came as no surprise given how Biden repeatedly glanced at his watch while being memorialized at a ceremony marking the return of the bodies of the 13 people who died.
“I saw it, and like everybody else I was shocked, but not surprised,” he told The Post about Biden’s inexcusable televised blunder. “I’m glad the American people can see what we’ve been working on for the last three years.”
The years since his son’s murder haven’t been easy for Nikoi, who made headlines in March when he was arrested for yelling at Biden during the State of the Union address over the deaths of 13 people.
“What he did last night was basically refuse to respect the service and sacrifice of 13 military personnel who were killed directly at the gates of the monastery. They were killed because of his incompetence. And when that happens, he refuses to even acknowledge them,” Nikoi said.
While some liberal commentators have argued Biden was simply misspeaking an old claim about ending a 20-year-old war, his comments should be hard to swallow even for those most sympathetic to the struggles of aging, said Coral Briceno, who lost her son, Marine Corporal Humberto Sanchez, in the bombing.
“I know he’s not there 100 percent and it’s one thing to not acknowledge that they were killed by his administration,” she said, “but if you want everyone to know that no one is dead, that’s another story.”
“But in his heart [thinks he] “We didn’t kill the soldiers. That didn’t happen,” she added.
Christy Shamblin, whose daughter-in-law Nicole Gee was among the 13 killed, said taking into account Biden’s advanced age and apparently frail mental state was “just an excuse.”
“There are always excuses, but the reality is these 13 people died, many more were injured, and 180 Afghans died in that moment,” she said. “This was supposed to be a peacekeeping operation and an evacuation. Our children were not in the war, and he couldn’t bring them home. He couldn’t get it right.”
“God forbid we get into war again, because that’s what we’re heading towards. And Trump will deny all of that too. He’ll deny it and he’ll put the blame on somebody else, and that’s exactly what they do. They don’t take responsibility,” she continued of the White House administration.
Darin Huber, father of Staff Sergeant Taylor Huber, who was killed during the retreat, said no matter how hard Biden tries, he will never be able to wipe the blood off his hands.
“He can’t put the Afghanistan issue well in the rearview mirror. There’s no point in pushing it aside and sweeping it under the rug,” he said, “because it’s going to come back to haunt him time and time again.”
Gold Star parents have been working with the House Foreign Affairs Committee to raise awareness and accountability for Biden’s failure to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The committee’s chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), called the president’s statements a “nasty lie.”
“Three service members were killed in Jordan. Thirteen brave service members were killed at Abbey Gate during our withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. At Abbey Gate, American citizens and thousands of our Afghan allies were abandoned by terrorists. To this day, President Biden refuses to make public the names of the 13 casualties. President Biden, history will not forget your cowardice,” he told the Post.
