Former President Donald Trump marked the third anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate bombing by attending a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the 13 fallen soldiers. As Trump paid his respects, President Biden and Vice President Harris were notably absent, with both choosing not to attend the event. The contrast between Trump’s participation and the empty schedules of Biden and Harris has drawn sharp criticism from military families and political observers.
During the ceremony, Trump placed wreaths at the graves of each of the soldiers, including Staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss. The former president spoke with Knauss’s family over the phone as he paid tribute to their sacrifice. Trump later remarked that the deaths were a direct result of Biden’s poorly executed Afghanistan withdrawal, which also saw billions in military equipment abandoned to the Taliban.
The absence of Biden and Harris has angered many, especially given Harris’s lack of public acknowledgment of the anniversary. Her schedule indicated only closed-door meetings in Washington, D.C., while Biden’s agenda included a morning briefing but no mention of the Abbey Gate bombing. The decision not to attend the ceremony has left many Gold Star families feeling ignored.
Darin Hoover, whose son Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover was killed in the bombing, has been vocal about his dissatisfaction with the administration’s response. Hoover expressed his disappointment that more hasn’t been done to honor the fallen and ensure accountability for the botched withdrawal.
The Arlington ceremony served as a stark reminder of the costs of failed leadership. Trump’s presence contrasted with the no-show from Biden and Harris, reigniting debates over how the country remembers its fallen heroes and holds leaders accountable for their decisions.
