Vance’s comments were triggered by a question about former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery.Trump had visited the site with families of service members who were killed during the 2021 attack at Abbey Gate, Kabul, as the chaotic withdrawal unfolded.
“Three years ago, 13 brave, innocent Americans died because Kamala Harris failed to do her job,” Vance declared. “There hasn’t been a single investigation or firing. To see those 13 lives lost and not hold anyone accountable is disgraceful. Kamala Harris is disgraceful.”
He continued, “If we’re talking about Abbey Gate, it’s that Kamala Harris is so asleep at the wheel that she hasn’t even bothered to investigate what happened. Instead, she chooses to yell at Donald Trump for showing up. She can, she can go to hell.”
The Trump campaign has yet to comment on Vance’s remarks, and the Harris campaign declined to respond. Vance later elaborated on his frustration during an interview with NBC News.
“I get frustrated, and I get pissed off,” Vance admitted. “Kamala Harris’ leadership failure at Abbey Gate is absolutely something to be angry about. And when she turns the focus onto Trump instead of addressing her own failures, it justifies my frustration.”
Vance also criticized the Harris campaign for allegedly politicizing the incident at Arlington National Cemetery, suggesting that Harris’ response to the tragedy was more about political maneuvering than genuine empathy.
In response to the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack, Harris expressed her sorrow for the families affected and reaffirmed her commitment to honoring the service and sacrifice of American troops. She defended President Biden’s decision to end the US involvement in Afghanistan, calling it “the courageous and right decision.”
The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, culminating in the tragic events at Abbey Gate, remains a contentious issue in American politics, with both parties leveraging it to criticize their opponents.
