The White House on Monday issued a sharply worded briefing accusing former US president Joe Biden’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal of creating long-term national security risks for the United States.
Officials said the country is now suffering the “consequences” of those failures, citing recent attacks involving Afghan nationals admitted during Biden’s tenure.
During the briefing, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed 13 American service members happened because of what she called Biden’s “failed retreat from Afghanistan.”
She further claimed that an Afghan national brought into the US under Biden carried out a terrorist attack in Washington, DC, in which National Guardsmen were shot near the White House last week.
Levitt said the Biden administration “failed to properly vet this foreign terrorist,” placing American lives at risk.
Millions of undocumented Afghans
Levitt described “millions of illegal Afghan citizens” as a threat to US national security and insisted that they must be sent back. She added that the Trump administration is now re-examining all Afghans transferred to the US during Biden’s tenure.
“Anyone who proves to be a threat to our national security will be deported,” Levitt said, adding that Trump is reviewing all applications from Afghan nationals currently in the country.
Reviewing Afghan arrivals admitted under Biden
Officials said more than 100,000 Afghans were “recklessly allowed into the United States” under Biden. The current administration is conducting a comprehensive reassessment of each case.
Levitt also stated that “now more than ever, it is necessary to evacuate people on a large scale,” without specifying the regions or populations involved.
Separately, the White House confirmed that President Trump will meet with his national security team today to discuss the ongoing pressure campaign against Venezuela. White House spokesperson Pete Hegseth has also spoken with members of Congress regarding recent US military strikes in Venezuela.
White House touts Trump’s border actions
During the briefing, Levitt and other administration officials highlighted Trump’s measures on immigration and border security, saying his policies have led to a “historic decrease in illegal immigration.”
Officials said that Trump secured the country’s borders after taking office, imposing travel restrictions on 19 countries, including Afghanistan. These actions, they claimed, have significantly reduced unlawful entry into the US.
Responding to questions about the president’s health, Levitt said Trump’s MRI report is normal, adding that his heart rate and arteries are in good condition.
