President Trump calls for firing generals involved in the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, signaling major military leadership shake-up while demanding recovery of billions in abandoned equipment.
Quick Takes
- Trump suggested Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth evaluate firing all military leaders involved in the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal.
- Over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment was abandoned and seized by the Taliban during the 2021 withdrawal.
- The withdrawal resulted in a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians.
- Trump has demanded recovery of abandoned equipment, which includes “brand new trucks” and other high-end military assets.
- Defense Secretary Hegseth confirmed a “complete review” is underway to ensure “full accountability” for the withdrawal failures.
Trump Targets Military Leadership Over Afghanistan Debacle
In a recent Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump took aim at military leaders involved in the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, suggesting widespread dismissals. Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to evaluate removing generals who participated in the operation that ended with 13 U.S. service members killed and billions in military equipment abandoned. The chaotic evacuation occurred after the Taliban rapidly took control of Kabul, creating a desperate situation at Hamid Karzai International Airport as Americans and Afghan allies attempted to flee the country.
“They’re going to be largely gone,” Trump stated regarding the military leaders involved in the withdrawal, though he added, “I’m not going to tell this man what to do,” referring to Defense Secretary Hegseth.
Hegseth has confirmed the administration is taking action, stating: “We’re doing a complete review of every single aspect of what happened with the botched withdrawal of Afghanistan, and plan to have full accountability.”
Billions in Abandoned Military Equipment
A significant focus of Trump’s criticism centers on the estimated $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan. This equipment includes aircraft, ground vehicles, weapons, and other military assets that were subsequently seized by Taliban forces. The Pentagon previously indicated that some equipment was deliberately disabled before departure, but significant quantities remained intact and operational, providing a substantial boost to Taliban military capabilities.
“We left billions, tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment behind, brand new trucks. You see them display it every year, or their little roadway, someplace where they have a road and they drive the, you know, waving the flag and talking about America … that’s all the top of the line stuff. I think we should get a lot of that equipment back.” – Trump
Trump has emphasized the need to recover these assets, though specific details on how such a recovery would be accomplished remain unclear. The White House has not yet provided a comprehensive plan for retrieving equipment from Taliban-controlled territory. Defense analysts note that without U.S. contractor maintenance, much of the more sophisticated equipment will likely become inoperable over time, though basic vehicles and weapons remain valuable assets.
President Donald Trump has called for the firing of military generals involved in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
While speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump criticized the US military’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, calling it a “disaster”… pic.twitter.com/bhMkMWFvZ2
— Real News No Bullshit (@NewsNotBs) February 26, 2025
Military Leaders Face Scrutiny
Several key military leaders involved in the withdrawal have already retired, including Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., who commanded U.S. Central Command during the operation. McKenzie previously took responsibility for the Abbey Gate suicide bombing, stating, “I was the overall commander, and I and I alone bear full military responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate.” Still serving is Gen. Christopher Donahue, who led the 82nd Airborne Division during the withdrawal and was famously photographed as the last American soldier to board the final evacuation flight.
“The outcome in Afghanistan was the result of many decisions from many years of war. Like any complex phenomena, there was no single causal factor that determined the outcome.” – Army Gen. Mark Milley
While the Trump administration had negotiated an agreement with the Taliban to reduce U.S. military presence, Trump has consistently criticized President Biden’s execution of the final withdrawal. Both McKenzie and former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley had advised maintaining some troop presence in Afghanistan, recommendations that were not followed. The administration has already enacted several high-profile military dismissals, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff chair, the Navy’s top admiral, and other senior military officials.
Sources:
- Trump signals more firings of military leaders – POLITICO
- Trump pushes to recover ‘billions of dollars’ of military equipment left behind in Afghanistan withdrawal | Fox News
- Trump pushes to recover ‘billions of dollars’ of military equipment left behind in Afghanistan withdrawal
- Trump wants generals involved in Afghanistan withdrawal fired
