Retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, recently commented on Trump's role in the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. McMaster revealed that Trump initially decided to maintain a US presence in Afghanistan but later reversed course, leading to an agreement with the Taliban for US troops to withdraw by May 2021.
McMaster expressed his belief that Trump's indecision and susceptibility to manipulation played a significant role in the criticized withdrawal. He highlighted how Trump was influenced by slogans like 'End the endless wars' and 'Afghanistan is a graveyard of empires.'
When asked about Trump's responsibility for the withdrawal during the Biden administration, McMaster acknowledged that Trump bears some blame for the situation.
On the third anniversary of the attack at Kabul airport's Abbey Gate, which claimed the lives of 13 US military service members, Trump participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. He was accompanied by family members of the fallen service members and has been vocal in criticizing the Biden administration's handling of the troop withdrawal.
In his new book, 'At War with Ourselves: My Tour of Duty in the Trump White House,' McMaster delves into Trump's desire for approval from strong-man foreign leaders like Vladimir Putin and Rodrigo Duterte. McMaster highlighted Trump's need to be perceived as a strong leader and the vulnerabilities that stemmed from this desire.
McMaster emphasized that his book aims to provide insights into Trump's character, both strengths, and weaknesses, to offer a nuanced perspective on the former president's leadership style. He expressed concerns about potentially providing a playbook for manipulating Trump if he were to be reelected.
