Donald Trump, the President of the United States, strongly criticized the Taliban’s seizure of American military equipment during a speech at a Republican gathering, saying the issue makes him furious.
In his speech, Trump emphasized that he had rebuilt the U.S. military during his first term as president, but a significant amount of military equipment was left behind in Afghanistan. He stated that the Taliban now uses this equipment in its military parades, calling the situation unacceptable.
Trump said in part of his speech: “You know they have their parades every year where they take our military vehicles and run them up some little streets like it’s their form of a military parade, and it makes me angry when I see it.”
Trump also claimed that the United States provides Afghanistan with $2 to $2.5 billion in financial aid annually and demanded that these funds be halted until the military equipment is returned. He stressed that the Taliban is selling some of this equipment on the black market and that a solution must be found to rectify this situation.
“If we’re going to give them money, it’s okay, but I want them to give us our military equipment back.”
During his speech, Trump also instructed a member of his team to investigate the matter and find a way to recover U.S. military equipment from the Taliban.
These remarks come as Republicans have repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for what they call an “unplanned” withdrawal from Afghanistan and the abandonment of military equipment.
