Donald Trump says Afghanistan withdrawal would be ‘more successful’ under him versus Biden

Donald Trump (left) claims Afghanistan withdrawal would be ‘much more successful’ if he was in office instead of Joe Biden (right) (Pictures: AP/ Getty)

Former President Donald Trump is criticizing President Joe Biden’s handling of the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan and claiming the process would be ‘much more successful’ if he was still in charge. The former commander-in-chief slammed Biden on Thursday as the Taliban gained control of 11 provincial capital cities.

Trump said that pulling out of Afghanistan under his watch would have been a ‘conditions-based withdrawal’, according to the Washington Examiner. Trump, who struck a deal with the Taliban for full withdrawal by May 1, claimed that he ‘personally had discussions with top Taliban leaders whereby they understood what they were doing now would not be acceptable’.

‘It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal, and the Taliban understood that better than anyone,’ Trump said.

Trump’s comments come as the Taliban continues to take provincial capitals and has gained control of roughly two-thirds of the country.

The Taliban gained control of a 10th provincial capital on Thursday (Picture: EPA)

‘It would have been a much different and much more successful withdrawal,’ former President Donald Trump said (Picture: AFP)

The Afghan government and military are not certain they can withstand the onslaught from the Taliban, with some saying defeat is imminent, according to the Washington Post. 

Trump is not the only former president to criticize Biden’s moves. Former President George W Bush said he would have made the decision to pull the troops, saying last month that the ‘consequences are going to be unbelievably bad’.

‘I’m afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm’ after the troops complete their departure from Afghanistan on August 31, Bush said. ‘It’s unbelievable how that society changed from the brutality of the Taliban.’

The capital of Kabul has not been directly threatened by the Taliban as it gains ground, according to Politico. However, images and videos captured the moments that the Taliban took its 10th provincial capital, Ghazni.

Fearing the Taliban, Ghazni’s provincial governor and police chief agreed to flee the city they were sworn to protect (Picture: EPA)

Fearing the Taliban, Ghazni’s provincial governor and police chief agreed to flee the city they were sworn to protect.

‘The Taliban used civilian houses to protect themselves, and the government, without paying any attention to civilians, carried out airstrikes,’ said Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand told Politico.

She said she believes the Taliban bolstered their ranks while seizing American-supplied weapons and vehicles.

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