Washington, Aug 2026 : US President Donald Trump has marked the fifth anniversary of the deadly Abbey Gate terrorist attack in Afghanistan by honouring the 13 American service members killed in the bombing and sharply criticising the Biden administration’s handling of the US withdrawal from the country.
Trump proclaimed August 26, 2026, as a day of commemoration for the victims of the attack, which occurred during the final and chaotic stages of the US-led evacuation from Afghanistan. In his proclamation, the President paid tribute to the fallen troops and said their sacrifice must never be forgotten.
“At 5.36 p.m. on August 26, 2021, an ISIS-K suicide bomber entered a crowd at Abbey Gate and detonated an explosive vest,” the proclamation said. The attack killed 13 US service members and wounded 45 others. More than 160 Afghan civilians were also injured, according to the presidential statement.
“As a Nation, it is our sacred duty to honour -- with the deepest respect and reverence -- the men and women in uniform who gave their lives that day,” Trump said, while stressing the importance of remembering the families affected by the tragedy.
The President specifically named all 13 service members who lost their lives. They included Staff Sergeants Ryan C. Knauss and Darin T. Hoover; Sergeants Johanny Rosario Pichardo and Nicole L. Gee; Corporals Hunter Lopez, Daegan W. Page and Humberto A. Sanchez; and Lance Corporals David L. Espinoza, Jared M. Schmitz, Rylee J. McCollum, Dylan R. Merola and Kareem M. Nikoui.
Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak was also among those killed.
“On the fifth anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate, we solemnly honour their selflessness and valour,” Trump said.
The anniversary also became an occasion for Trump to renew his criticism of former President Joe Biden and the manner in which American forces were withdrawn from Afghanistan in 2021.
Trump argued that the Biden administration had abandoned strategic advantages built up during the earlier US military campaign. He specifically pointed to the July 2, 2021, withdrawal of American forces from Bagram Airfield, describing it as a decision that surrendered the country’s largest US military base and reduced the strategic options available to remaining American forces.
“Yet within months, President Biden squandered those hard-fought gains,” Trump said, accusing the administration of placing political considerations ahead of military strategy and carrying out a withdrawal that he described as one of the worst military disasters in US history.
According to Trump’s proclamation, the Taliban subsequently seized Bagram and released thousands of prisoners from detention facilities. Kabul fell soon afterwards, leaving US forces to conduct an urgent evacuation through Hamid Karzai International Airport.
The President also claimed that his administration had apprehended the ISIS-K terrorist responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing and brought the suspect to face justice in the United States. The proclamation did not identify the individual or provide further details about the case.
Trump said he would continue to support American troops and military families while ensuring that the circumstances that led to the Abbey Gate tragedy were not repeated.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately issued a statement commemorating the anniversary and remembering both the American service members and Afghan civilians killed and injured in the attack.
Rubio expressed solidarity with the Gold Star families of the fallen troops and said the United States would continue to remember their sacrifice. He also offered prayers for the 45 American service members wounded in the bombing.
Rubio described the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal as a “dark stain” on US history and said the Trump administration remained committed to honouring the victims while seeking answers for the American people.
The Abbey Gate bombing occurred as thousands of people crowded around Kabul airport during the final days of the US-led evacuation. Foreign governments were attempting to evacuate their citizens and eligible Afghans after the Taliban rapidly returned to power, creating a desperate and highly volatile security situation.
