Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the prominent figure in the viral night vision photo capturing the final American soldier leaving Kabul, Afghanistan, has been quietly confirmed by the Senate to lead U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa. Donahue, who led the 82nd Airborne Division during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, was nominated by President Biden for a promotion to four-star general.
The Senate's confirmation of Donahue was delayed due to a procedural hold by a senator, later identified as Sen. Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma. Mullin, a vocal critic of the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, had raised concerns about accountability for the tragic events at Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Despite criticisms, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended Donahue's nomination, emphasizing that the responsibility for the withdrawal rested with the White House. The Trump administration had also expressed intentions to potentially court-martial senior military officers involved in the pullout.
Following the hold, the Senate unanimously confirmed Donahue's promotion to lead the US Army Europe-Africa command. Donahue, who has been leading the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, since 2022, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles in Afghanistan and special operations.
