Trump expected to slam Harris on 3rd anniversary of deadly Afghanistan attack that killed 13 Americans

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Trump lays wreathes at Arlington National Cemetery honoring 13 US service members killed at Abbey Gate bombing

Former President Trump participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing during the Afghanistan withdrawal that killed 13 U.S. servicemembers.

Former President Donald Trump is expected to attack Vice President Kamala Harris on the third anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 Americans during the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal. His campaign also released a statement Monday blasting Harris and President Biden for still not publicly saying the names of the troops killed out loud three years later. 

Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to pay his respects to the service members killed in the bombing outside the Kabul airport. 

Biden and Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, were notably absent. Monday marks three years since the Aug. 26, 2021, suicide bombing at Hamid Karzai International Airport, which killed 13 American service members and more than 100 Afghans. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

"Three years ago today, 13 U.S. service members were killed at Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan — the crescendo of the botched Harris-Biden Afghanistan withdrawal, which ranks among the worst foreign policy debacles in American history," the Trump campaign said in a statement. "Three years later, Kamala Harris still hasn't said the names of these 13 heroes out loud — not even once."

"There still has been no accountability for the Harris-Biden failed withdrawal, which stranded thousands of American citizens and left billions of dollars worth of U.S. equipment behind for the Taliban — who quickly re-took the country and restored their ruthless, repressive regime to power," the Trump campaign continued. "It also set the stage for America's enemies around the world to become emboldened, yielding far-reaching consequences that reverberate across the globe yet today. 

HARRIS' ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL A MYSTERY DESPITE BEING 'LAST PERSON IN THE ROOM' WITH BIDEN

"By her own admission, Kamala Harris was a key player in the disastrous withdrawal," the Trump campaign said. "She bragged about being the last person in the room for the fateful decision, was "front and center" for the security briefings, and even laughed as a reporter asked her about the American citizens still trapped in Afghanistan. 

Trump participated in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on the third-year anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members during the Afghanistan withdrawal. (POOL)

 "Now, the families of the fallen — ignored by Harris and Biden — are still waiting for answers, three years after the worst moment of their lives," the statement added. "It didn't have to be this way — and it will never happen again under President Trump.

Trump later Monday went to Michigan to address the National Guard Association of the United States conference.

Since President Biden ended his re-election bid, Trump has been zeroing in on Harris, now the Democratic presidential nominee, and her role in foreign policy decisions. He specifically highlighted the vice president’s statements that she was the last person in the room before Biden made the decision on Afghanistan.

"She bragged that she would be the last person in the room, and she was. She was the last person in the room with Biden when the two of them decided to pull the troops out of Afghanistan," he said last week in a North Carolina rally. "She had the final vote. She had the final say, and she was all for it."

The relatives of some of the 13 American service members who were killed appeared on stage at the Republican National Convention last month, saying Biden had never publicly named their loved ones. 

Biden and Harris released separate written statements on Monday recognizing the three-year anniversary of the Abbey Gate bombing, with each notably listing the names of the 13 fallen troops. 

"Three years ago today, outside of Kabul Airport, an ISIS terrorist killed 13 American servicemembers and more than 100 innocent Afghans, and wounded many more," Harris wrote in her statement. "Thirteen American heroes were taken from us on that day: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover. Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo. Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee. Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez. Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page. Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui. Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss." 

Former President Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

"Today and everyday, I mourn and honor them. My prayers are with their families and loved ones. My heart breaks for their pain and their loss. These 13 devoted patriots represent the best of America, putting our beloved nation and their fellow Americans above themselves and deploying into danger to keep their fellow citizens safe," she continued. "Today, I am also thinking about all our servicemembers who served in America’s longest war – including 2,461 who made the ultimate sacrifice and 20,744 who were wounded. Over the course of nearly two decades, they served selflessly and bravely to protect the American people and our homeland. I will never forget meeting many of them on a trip to Afghanistan as a U.S. Senator. These American servicemembers possessed extraordinary skill, discipline, and dedication."

Harris promised to "fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our troops and their families and I will always honor their service and sacrifice."

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris appears on stage during the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

"As I have said, President Biden made the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war," she continued. "Over the past three years, our Administration has demonstrated we can still eliminate terrorists, including the leaders of al-Qaeda and ISIS, without troops deployed into combat zones. I will never hesitate to take whatever action necessary to counter terrorist threats and protect the American people and the homeland. On this solemn day, let us come together as one nation to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice three years ago on behalf of the United States and our cherished freedoms. Our grateful nation mourns and salutes them. In their memory, let us re-dedicate ourselves to the cause they gave their lives for: to protect and defend the greatest democracy on Earth, the United States of America." 

In his written statement, Biden said that ever since he became vice president in the Obama administration, "I carried a card with me every day that listed the exact number of American service members who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan – including Taylor, Johanny, Nicole, Hunter, Daegan, Humberto, David, Jared, Rylee, Dylan, Kareem, Maxton, and Ryan. Because we must never forget the immense price that was paid for our freedom."

Democrats wielded allegations that Trump does not respect veterans and had previously referred to slain World War II soldiers as suckers and losers — accusations denied by Trump.

HARRIS LEAVES OUT DEADLY BOTCHED AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL IN SOARING PRO-MILITARY DNC SPEECH

Under Trump, the United States signed a peace agreement with the Taliban that was aimed at ending America’s longest war and bringing U.S. troops home. Biden later pointed to that agreement as he sought to deflect blame for the Taliban overrunning Afghanistan, saying it bound him to withdraw troops and set the stage for the chaos that engulfed the country.

Taliban fighters line up to show off their weapons as they control access to the Abbey Gate in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 25, 2021. (Marcus Yam/Los  Angeles Times)

A Biden administration review of the withdrawal acknowledged that the evacuation of Americans and allies from Afghanistan should have started sooner, but attributed the delays to the Afghan government and military, and to U.S. military and intelligence community assessments.

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The top two U.S. generals who oversaw the evacuation said the administration inadequately planned for the withdrawal. The nation’s top-ranking military officer at the time, then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, told lawmakers earlier this year he had urged Biden to keep a residual force of 2,500 forces to give backup. Instead, Biden decided to keep a much smaller force of 650 that would be limited to securing the U.S. embassy.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and the Associated Press contributed to this report.