Staff Reports
The fallout from President Biden’s chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal continues to haunt him, as evidenced by the latest backlash from Gold Star families. Those families who have lost loved ones in the tragic 2021 withdrawal are rightly outraged by what they deem an insipid tribute to their fallen heroes during Biden’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly. One wonders if the president believes a vague acknowledgment of their sacrifice is enough to satisfy those grieving families. Spoiler alert: it isn’t.
During this “brief tribute,” Biden managed to deliver an awkward performance that left many families feeling insulted rather than honored. His remarks lacked the depth and sincerity that such a solemn occasion demands, a reflection of a man who seems more focused on his next political maneuver than on the real lives that were lost due to his decisions. With every bungled attempt at gravitas, Biden echoed a sentiment that simply fell flat and struck many as an afterthought.
"We cannot grow weary. We cannot look away and we will not let up on our support for Ukraine."
Pres. Biden delivers a farewell speech to leaders at the UN General Assembly, says Russian Pres. Putin's war on Ukraine "has failed at its core aim." https://t.co/nRKVSsZ11w pic.twitter.com/UYIlMCWwC5
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 24, 2024
Biden described the troop withdrawal as “a hard decision, but the right decision,” a baffling justification for a pullout that led directly to the deaths of 13 American service members. It’s almost as if he’s still in the denial phase, clinging to this narrative while the Gold Star families are left to pick up the pieces of his choice. The president’s speech felt rehearsed at best, devoid of any genuine emotion, which only added to the families’ frustration and disappointment.
Gold Star father Steve Nikoui didn’t hold back when he critiqued Biden, insisting that the president’s claims of daily thoughts about these fallen troops were nothing but a politically convenient smokescreen. Nikoui explained that Biden’s remorse is likely rooted in self-preservation rather than any real empathy for the lives lost due to his administration’s policies. The tragic irony here is that the very act of dishonoring these heroes could be the albatross around Biden’s neck that ushers in a one-term presidency.
Another Gold Star father, Darin Hoover, echoed this sentiment, pointing out that the president is woefully out of touch. Hoover suggested that Biden’s speech was a poorly crafted attempt by his staff to hide his actual role in the mismanagement of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. It’s hard to imagine a more tone-deaf approach when dealing with the families grieving the loss of their children due to his decisions. For the Gold Star families, there’s nothing “presidential” about ignoring the sacrifices made by their loved ones, and the feeling is that they will not soon forget the blood that remains on Biden’s hands.
