(Washington, DC) — The White House is dodging whether it was a mistake for President Biden to promise U.S. troops would stay in Afghanistan “until every American is out.” Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked the question and would only say “the U.S. remains committed to get every American out.,” yet the President appeared to blame those stranded in Afghanistan for their plight. The President made the promise earlier in August before the full U.S. troop pullout on Monday.
President Biden says Americans in Afghanistan were warned 19 times to leave since March, seeming to blame the victims of his exit “strategy”. Speaking from the White House–and taking no questions, Biden said the U.S. is committed to get out the couple hundred Americans who still wish to leave, but offered no plan for getting them out. The President said 90-percent of Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan already left. He said the U.S. will work with the Taliban and other international partners to get them out. In a previous ABC news interview, Biden promised U.S. troops would stay in Afghanistan “until ever American is out.”
The White House does not have an agreement with the Taliban to allow Americans to leave Afghanistan. Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. has an “understanding” with the Taliban to allow Americans to get out. She added the administration is working with the Taliban and international partners to get them out. There are about 200 Americans in Afghanistan who want to leave.