American military veterans continue to demand accountability from the Biden-Harris administration regarding the chaotic and deadly 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, and recent events suggest their concerns are being largely ignored. In a surprising and unintentional slip, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council communications adviser, appears to have confirmed that ignoring veterans’ grievances is standard practice.
On Wednesday, Kirby mistakenly sent an internal message intended for White House staff to a Fox News Digital reporter, stating there was “no use in responding” to veterans’ concerns about the Afghan withdrawal and how it has been portrayed by the administration. This admission came just after the release of a House Foreign Affairs Committee report, titled “Willful Blindness: An Assessment of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Chaos that Followed.”
The report, led by Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), concluded that the Biden-Harris administration had the necessary information and opportunity to plan a safer and more secure withdrawal but instead prioritized optics over security.
According to McCaul, this decision endangered U.S. servicemembers, State Department personnel, and Afghan allies, culminating in the deadly attack at Abbey Gate during the withdrawal. Thirteen U.S. servicemembers and countless Afghan civilians lost their lives in the chaos.
When questioned about the report during Monday’s White House press briefing, Kirby downplayed the findings, dismissing them as “one-sided” and claiming the administration had been transparent throughout the process. He denied that U.S. military equipment had been handed over to the Taliban and pushed back against accusations of deception or lying.
Veterans and their supporters, however, were outraged by Kirby’s dismissive tone. Florida Republican Rep. Cory Mills, a veteran himself, expressed his anger on social media, urging the administration to take responsibility for abandoning Americans and allies, leaving women and children in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, and for the lives lost in the failed operation. Mills was one of many veterans who criticized the administration’s handling of the withdrawal and Kirby’s comments.
The situation worsened when Kirby’s email to White House staff was inadvertently shared with the Fox News reporter. In the email, Kirby referred to the veterans’ complaints as coming from a “handful” of veterans “all of one stripe,” further inflaming those already upset by the administration’s apparent indifference. After realizing his mistake, Kirby responded to the reporter, saying, “Clearly, I didn’t realize you were on the chain.”
This revelation drew swift condemnation from veterans, lawmakers, and political figures alike. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) took to social media, questioning how the administration could be so dismissive of veterans’ concerns, particularly so close to the anniversary of 9/11 and the withdrawal. Senior Trump adviser Jason Miller called the incident “shameful,” while House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) blasted the administration for its disrespect toward Gold Star families. Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson called for Kirby’s resignation, describing him as a “DISGRACE.”
McCaul, who spearheaded the report, called Kirby’s comments “appalling” but noted that this behavior is consistent with how the administration has treated veterans and Gold Star families throughout the Afghan withdrawal fallout.
