JD Vance does not like Kamala Harris’s decision on Afghanistan.
Senator JD Vance of Ohio made headlines on Wednesday when he lashed out at Vice President Kamala Harris, saying she “can go to hell” for the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The fiery remark came in response to an incident that occurred during former President Donald Trump’s visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Monday. Trump was there to mark three years since a suicide bombing in Kabul killed 13 service members during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
During his visit to Section 60 of the cemetery, where veterans of the post-9/11 conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are laid to rest, there was an interaction between Trump campaign staff and a cemetery official, leading to a dispute over whether the campaign’s photographer had permission to be there.
“Three years ago, 13 brave, innocent Americans died, and they died because Kamala Harris refused to do her job, and there hasn’t been a single investigation or a single firing,” Vance, Trump’s running mate, told a CBS News reporter while campaigning in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Vance went on to call Harris “disgraceful” and criticized her for not investigating the incident, instead choosing to focus on Trump’s presence at the cemetery.
“She can go to hell,” Vance exclaimed, standing firm in his stance even during a later campaign stop in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Despite the backlash, Harris released a statement on Monday, vowing to fulfill the obligation of caring for troops and their families and honoring their service and sacrifice. She reiterated Biden’s decision to end America’s longest war, which began in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Biden administration and Congress have conducted multiple investigations into the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Reports from the White House and the State Department partly fault the Trump administration for circumstances that contributed to the challenges faced during the withdrawal.
The situation remains tense as political tensions run high, with both sides adamant in defending their positions.
Contributors:
Allison Novelo, Eleanor Watson, Jacob Rosen, and Olivia Rinaldi contributed to this report.
About the Author:
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. With a background at the Washington Examiner and The Hill, she was also a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
