Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, responded to Democrat Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) comments falsely blaming President Trump for former President Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan during the confirmation hearing for Deputy Defense Secretary Nominee Stephen A. Feinberg. During his remarks, the Senator also debunked false claims on the administration’s effort to shrink the federal government, and the U.S. posture towards Russia amid peace negotiations.
“The disastrous withdrawal came 100% from the Biden administration. And American lives were left behind, and are still dying because of it,” said Senator Mullin. “And you’re going to sit there with a straight face and try to say that it was President Trump’s fault?”
Watch the senator’s full remarks here.
Highlights below:
“And then, as the Senator that just asked questions wanted to bring up the Afghanistan withdrawal. Brother, that’s very, very close to me. That hits home. And you’re going to lay the withdrawal on President Trump, and say it was his fault?”
“The Biden administration threw out the entire withdrawal plan that the Trump administration had and decided to go their own way. And man, wasn’t that great?”
“And then we’re going to start talking about President Trump not calling a bully out, like Putin. Do we forget what happened in 2017 when Trump 100% told Russia to stay out of Syria, not to be involved, especially with the bombing of Assad’s own people? And when they did, President Trump, within 30 minutes, took out the airfield that they operated out of, destroyed it, and then took back the airspace, and we had the airspace in Syria all the way up until Biden took office and we gave it back to Putin.”
“Do we want to go back to Israel and Hamas and discuss the way the Biden administration handled that? And the way they refused to call Hamas a terrorist organization, and the Houthis a terrorist organization, and Iran a terrorist organization. And you’re going to sit there with a straight face and actually say that about President Trump?”
“Are we serious saying that President Trump isn’t willing to stand up to a bully when underneath his administration, was the only time that Russia didn’t advance into Ukraine, because [Putin] did it underneath Obama, when they took Crimea and they did it underneath Biden, because they didn’t respect him, because of the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. And every expert will tell you that.”
“The President is bringing back hostages. He also brought back the hostage that Biden left behind, and he didn’t give up one thing to Russia, including a guy that was highly, highly considered a threat to the world… Doctor death, that we that we decided to trade for. And I’m sure you guys thought that was a good trade.”
“Guys, give me a break. We’re trying to advance America’s agenda and do what’s best for this country, and the American people agree with the direction we’re going.”
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