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The recent crisis in the Afghanistan evacuation and troop withdrawal has led many figures on the far-right, including disgraced former President Donald Trump, to criticize US President Joe Biden and pin the blame on him for the chaos. However, a former aide to now-former vice president Mike Pence revealed that the Afghan refugee crisis years back was caused by Trump loyalist and aide Stephen Miller and his racist rhetoric.
Former Pence aide and now vocal Trump critic Olivia Troye spoke on the efforts made by the Trump administration in an interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC and on social media. The former president had previously pledged to end the conflict in Afghanistan including accepting Afghan refugees in the country. However, Miller peddled his racist rhetoric to Trump, which ultimately led to the four-year halt in processing visas.
“There were cabinet meetings about this during the Trump Admin where Stephen Miller would peddle his racist hysteria about Iraq & Afghanistan. He & his enablers across government would undermine anyone who worked on solving the SIV issue by devastating the system at DHS & State,” tweeted Troye in response to far-right figure Ben Domenech’s criticism of Biden.
Troye added that Pence was also aware of the problem at the time. However, Troye revealed that efforts were not being made as Trump and Miller “had watchdogs in place at DOJ, DHS, State & security agencies” that only complicated the process of the SIV visas.
Former DHS official Elizabeth Neumann also echoed Troye’s revelations. “Will add that we have proof of what Trump would have done -- he abandoned our allies in the non-notice decision to withdraw from Syria, Kurds, Iraqi SIVs, P2s, NGOs were left scrambling and many died,” tweeted Neumann.
Nevertheless, far-right figures and outlets have continued to pin the blame on the Biden administration for the withdrawal in Afghanistan and the rapid takeover of the Taliban. Despite the criticism, many veterans, especially those who have served in Afghanistan themselves, have expressed support for Biden’s decision. Biden has also defended his stance in withdrawing the troops while evacuating as many Afghans looking to flee the country.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pushed back against Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, who claimed that the Biden administration left Americans “stranded” in Afghanistan. As of now, 40,000 people, both Afghan and American, have been flown out of the war-torn country. Psaki called Doocy’s description “irresponsible” and reiterated the administration’s commitment to bring back those who want to go home.
