House

GOP lawmaker called on Biden to ‘resign immediately’ after ‘botched withdrawal’ from Afghanistan

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds (Fla.) on Monday called on President Biden to “resign immediately” following the U.S.’s “botched withdrawal” from Afghanistan.

“It has become clear that President Biden has lost complete and total confidence of the American people through this haphazard decision to withdraw from Afghanistan,” Donalds wrote in a statement.

“This botched withdrawal is currently threatening the lives of our servicemen and women, the stability in the region, and our integrity on the global stage,” he added.

The congressman continued, writing that Biden has failed in his duties as commander in chief.

“As Commander-in-Chief, Biden is directly responsible for commanding our brave troops with a coherent, strategically intelligence, and sound operation that keeps our Armed Services, citizens and allied partners out of harm’s way,” Donalds wrote.

“He has failed on all fronts,” he added.

Donalds is one of a number of GOP lawmakers who have criticized Biden for his handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized control of Kabul last weekend, unleashing chaos and causing the security situation in the country to rapidly deteriorate.

Other Republicans have also called on Biden to resign in light of the developments in Afghanistan, including Reps. Jefferson Van Drew (N.J.) and Andy Biggs (Ariz.).

Former President Trump, whom Biden has at times blamed in part for the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan because of the deal Trump signed with the Taliban last year, has also called on Biden to resign.

House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (N.Y) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said Biden is unfit to hold office, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has called on Biden’s entire defense and foreign policy team to resign.

The president, however, has remained committed to his decision to pull troops from the region, telling the American people in an address from the White House last week, “I stand squarely behind my decision.”

He did, however, reveal on Sunday that there are discussions underway between the administration and the military about potentially extending U.S. troop deployments in Afghanistan beyond the Aug. 31 deadline if necessary to continue facilitating the evacuation of American citizens and Afghan allies.

Donalds, in his statement on Monday, said he cannot “in good faith” tell his constituents “that the President of the United States can perform the duties entrusted to him by the Constitution.”

“Calling on the leader of the free world to resign his office immediately weighs heavy on my heart, but this must happen to restore America’s safety both at home and abroad, our honor, and faith in the Chief Executive to faithfully execute the duties of the Presidency,” he said.

“President Joseph R. Biden must resign immediately,” the congressman added.

The Hill reached out to the White House for comment.