Romney blasts Biden over those left in Afghanistan: ‘Bring them home’

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) rebuked President Biden on Wednesday for the United States’s decision to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan without evacuating remaining Americans and Afghan allies.

“Truth matters: Leaving Americans and thousands upon thousands of our Afghan partners behind is not success—it offends our values and aspirations. Mr. President, bring them home,” Romney tweeted on Wednesday.

Truth matters: Leaving Americans and thousands upon thousands of our Afghan partners behind is not success—it offends our values and aspirations. Mr. President, bring them home.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) September 1, 2021

The Biden administration believes that between 100 and 200 Americans are still in Afghanistan with “some intention to leave.” The New York Times reported that the number of Afghans who remain in the country who are eligible for resettlement is around 100,000. 

Biden has received criticism for both his decision to evacuate U.S. troops by a self-imposed Aug. 31 deadline and the country’s hasty evacuation operation. Some worried that the troop withdrawal might make it seem like the country is leaving those in Afghanistan — and the gains made by women and others — behind. 

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said last month that the Biden administration needed to make “every effort between now and September to safeguard the progress made and support our partners in the formation of an inclusive, transitional government.”

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) said in a statement on Tuesday that Biden had reneged on promises he made earlier that he would not leave behind Americans.

“He promised the Taliban that our troops would leave by his arbitrary August 31st deadline, and he promised the American people that our troops would stay until every American was out. He kept his promise to the Taliban and lied to the American people. These lies will cost Americans for decades to come,” Sasse said.

Biden has repeatedly defended his decision to evacuate the country — one that was also supported by former President Trump — and argued during a speech on Tuesday that there was “no deadline” on evacuating the remaining Americans in Afghanistan.

“And for those remaining Americans, there is no deadline. We remain committed to get them out if they want to come out. Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken is leading the continued diplomatic efforts to ensure a safe passage for any American, Afghan partner or foreign national who wants to leave Afghanistan,” Biden said on Tuesday.