Erie, Pennsylvania – U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio strongly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, blaming her for the Biden administration’s actions during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Vance’s remarks, made during a rally in Pennsylvania, marked a sharp increase in his criticism of Harris as the 2024 campaign heats up.
The comments came in response to an incident involving former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery with family members of service members killed in the 2021 attack at Afghanistan’s Abbey Gate. Vance accused Harris of failing to take responsibility for the lives lost during the attack, calling her “disgraceful” for not investigating or holding anyone accountable.
Vance expressed frustration with Harris’ lack of leadership and questioned why she would rather focus on criticizing Trump instead of addressing the issues at hand. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to Vance’s comments, while the Harris campaign declined to comment on the matter.
The controversy stems from the third anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate, which Harris acknowledged by expressing sympathy for the victims’ families. She emphasized the Biden administration’s decision to end America’s longest war and vowed to honor the service and sacrifice of the troops.
In the midst of ongoing investigations into the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, including the chaotic pullout and the attack at Abbey Gate, tensions remain high. The White House report largely blamed the Trump administration for the disorderly withdrawal, while the former U.S. commander overseeing the withdrawal took sole responsibility for the 13 service members killed during the Kabul airport attack.
Family members of the fallen soldiers have expressed frustrations over the lack of answers provided by the Biden administration. Retired Army Gen. Mark Milley acknowledged the ongoing search for more information, citing classified records as a hurdle.
As debates on accountability and transparency continue, Rep. Michael McCaul called on White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to testify before Congress, demanding answers for the disastrous withdrawal. The situation has further intensified the political landscape as the 2024 campaign takes center stage.