WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump welcomed Gold Star family members into the Oval Office on Aug. 25 for a signing ceremony as he issued a proclamation honoring the lives lost four years ago as the United States withdrew its military from Afghanistan.
“This is a very special group of people. I’ve been with them from the beginning, Trump said during the event.
“They’ve been with me, and I’ve been with them 100 percent, and we meet more than once a year.”
The president recounted a 2023 meeting at his golf club in Bedminster, N.J., where he joined the families for a memorial.
“They thought I'd be there maybe for five minutes, maybe not at all, and I showed up for like four hours,” Trump said. “We’re listening to music all night long, and they were all crying because they lost their loved ones.”
“We join in grief with the families who senselessly lost a loved one, and we renew our solemn pledge to our 13 fallen patriots—we will never forget you; we will never forsake you; and your memory will live on forever.”
Marine Corps members killed in the attack include Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui.
Also killed were Navy Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak and Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss.
“There are some great souls that are looking down on you right now,” Trump told the families.
At least 170 Afghan civilians were hurt when the suicide bomb exploded near a civilian gate.
The president has criticized President Joe Biden for his handling of the withdrawal, which began in July 2021, from the two-decade war.
“One of the dumbest days in the history of our country by a previous administration, getting out of a place that we shouldn’t have been,” Trump said.
“But that was a terrible day, and I think it was the worst day, and in many ways, the most embarrassing day in the history of our country. And yet, at the same time, we learned so much that it’s, you know, we call it a big lesson, it won’t happen again.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said holding those responsible accountable is a priority for the administration, with a new investigation led by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell.
“As far as what happened in Afghanistan, the military needs to answer for what’s happened,” Hegseth said during the ceremony. “So, upon the President’s direction, immediately, we initiated an investigation, which showed that there needed an even deeper dive.”
A comprehensive report is expected by the middle of 2026, he said.
Family members deserve apologies and justice, Vice President JD Vance told the crowd.
“I think, importantly today, this is a rectification of a wrong, the fact that the president of the United States lost your loved ones through incompetence, but never acknowledged it, and your government never actually put pen to paper to say we’re grateful for your sacrifice,” Vance said. “We correct that wrong today, and we’re going to keep on fighting to understand, as Pete said, what happened, so it never happens to another family again.”
