KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed calls to recover billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment left behind in Afghanistan following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
Speaking at his first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump criticized the failure to secure the equipment, which fell into Taliban hands.
“We left billions, tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment behind, brand new trucks,” Trump said. “You see them display it every year … waving the flag and talking about America.”
He added, “That’s all top-of-the-line stuff. I think we should get a lot of that equipment back.” However, Trump did not outline any concrete plans for recovering the abandoned equipment.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, over $7 billion worth of military gear, including aircraft, armored vehicles, and weapons, was left in Afghanistan. While some equipment was removed or destroyed, much of it remained.
The Taliban, who seized power in Kabul following the U.S. withdrawal, have since showcased captured American military hardware in public displays.
However, experts question whether the U.S. has any realistic means of retrieving the equipment.
Trump’s remarks also reignited debate over the handling of the withdrawal. When asked about military officials involved in the process, he said he would “fire every single one of them.”
However, key figures, including Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the former commander of U.S. Central Command, have already retired. McKenzie previously accepted full responsibility for the withdrawal’s failures, including the deadly suicide bombing at Abbey Gate, which killed 13 U.S. service members.
