Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign has responded to the repeated criticism by former President Donald Trump regarding the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan by shifting the focus back to Trump's own dealings with the Taliban in 2020. The campaign argues that Trump's agreement with the Taliban created a challenging deadline and left the Biden-Harris administration with no clear plans for a smooth withdrawal.

August 26 marked the third anniversary of the devastating Abbey Gate suicide bombing attack outside Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. This attack claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members, injured 18 others, and tragically killed around 170 Afghans. On this occasion, Trump placed blame for the "humiliation in Afghanistan" on both Vice President Harris and President Biden.

In response, Harris' campaign, as shared with CBS News, is pointing to Trump's announcement and subsequent cancellation of a meeting at Camp David with Taliban leaders five years ago. They argue that this deal played a significant role in the subsequent withdrawal, creating a "virtually impossible" deadline and leaving the Biden-Harris administration to deal with the aftermath.

Morgan Finkelstein, the spokesperson for Harris' campaign on national security, told CBS News that Trump shamelessly attacks the vice president to divert attention from his own actions that put troops at risk. Finkelstein highlighted how Trump wanted to host the Taliban at Camp David just days before the anniversary of September 11, demonstrating the recklessness of Trump's actions. Finkelstein blamed Trump's flawed deal with the same group that seized power in Afghanistan for the collapse of the Afghan government and the ensuing chaos.

Looking back, on September 7, 2019, Trump tweeted the cancellation of a meeting with the Taliban after a U.S. soldier was killed in a terrorist attack. However, months later, in February 2020, Trump went on to sign an agreement with the Taliban that paved the way for a significant withdrawal of U.S. troops by the end of that year. The deal was met with criticism, with Trump's former national security adviser H.R. McMaster referring to it as a "surrender agreement with the Taliban" during a podcast interview.

The attack at Kabul's airport occurred during President Biden's efforts to evacuate American soldiers and Afghan citizens from Afghanistan, aligning with the shared goal of both Trump and Biden to bring the long-running war to an end. As House Republicans are currently investigating the Biden administration's withdrawal, the President defended his decision by acknowledging that while it may not have been what he personally negotiated, it was an agreement made by the United States government.

Public sentiment regarding the withdrawal has been critical, with a CBS News poll in August 2021 showing that a plurality of respondents believed the removal of troops from Afghanistan went "very badly." This sentiment has contributed to a decline in President Biden's approval rating.

In recent weeks, Trump has intensified his criticisms of Biden and Harris regarding the attack and the withdrawal. During a speech in Detroit, he called for the resignations of Biden administration officials involved in the process, stating that the situation made the United States a laughing stock globally and tragically led to the loss of 13 soldiers' lives.

Meanwhile, Harris has reiterated her support for President Biden's decision to bring an end to the war in Afghanistan. She paid tribute to the 13 fallen service members, describing them as the embodiment of the best of America and their commitment to keeping fellow citizens safe.

Before becoming vice president, Harris had advocated for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and an end to the war. In April 2021, she revealed that she was the last person President Biden consulted before making the decision to withdraw all remaining U.S. forces. Throughout the chaotic withdrawal in August 2021, Harris emphasized the focus on evacuating American citizens and Afghan allies working alongside the U.S.

While acknowledging the need for a comprehensive analysis of the events leading to the withdrawal, Harris remains steadfast in her support of President Biden's decision, asserting that their priority was the safe evacuation of those at risk.