McMaster Criticizes Trump Over Afghanistan Withdrawal

Retired Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, who served as national security adviser under former President Donald Trump, has attributed part of the responsibility for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to Trump himself. In an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, McMaster stated that Trump's indecision and susceptibility to manipulation influenced the decision to negotiate with the Taliban, a move that led to the disastrous exit in August 2021, following an agreement made by the Trump administration. McMaster criticized the former president's approach, suggesting that it undermined Afghan forces and set the stage for the subsequent Taliban takeover. On the third anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack, which killed 13 U.S. service members, Trump attended a memorial ceremony while blaming President Biden for the withdrawal's fallout. McMaster's comments come as he promotes his book, 'At War with Ourselves,' which critiques Trump's leadership style and desire for approval from authoritarian leaders. He expressed concern about the implications of his insights should Trump seek reelection.