VIDEO: Gold Star Father Criticizes Biden over Afghanistan Withdrawal: ‘Man Up. Acknowledge Your Errors.’

A Father’s Plea for ‌Accountability

The father of ‍one of the U.S. service‍ members killed in Afghanistan​ during the ​chaotic August 2021 withdrawal called on President Joe ⁣Biden to “be a grown-ass man” and admit his role in the disaster.

“Do what our son did, be ⁢a grown-ass man—admit to ⁣your mistakes,” Darin Hoover, whose son ​Darin T. Hoover⁣ died in a terrorist ‍suicide bombing‌ at⁢ the Kabul airport, said during​ a congressional ‌forum in California on Monday.

Hoover called on Biden, ⁢Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other Biden administration officials “to resign immediately.”

Testimony from Gold Star‍ Families

Monday’s hearing featured testimony from Gold⁣ Star families of some of the 13 U.S. service ‌members killed in the⁤ 2021 ISIS attack. The families spoke at the city hall in Escondido, Calif.

The Biden administration withdrew American forces from Afghanistan in August 2021. The country quickly fell⁣ to the‍ Taliban,​ who⁢ seized billions of dollars’ worth of U.S.⁤ military ⁣equipment.⁢ The ISIS attack⁢ at the airport ⁤took​ place amid the chaotic ‌evacuation of the country.⁣ The⁣ Biden administration‌ has still not properly vetted 88,000 Afghan refugees who fled to the United States after ‌the Taliban took over.

“Our⁤ sons and daughters ‌have more integrity in their little toes than every one of them ⁤combined,” Hoover said, referring ⁣to the Biden administration officials ‌who oversaw the exit from the war-torn ⁣country.

Hoover’s son ⁤was 31 years old when he ⁤was killed. “Mamma I’m safe, I‍ love you,” was the final text Hoover sent to his mother before a terrorist detonated a suicide vest.

House Republicans are pushing legislation to force the‌ State Department ​to disclose classified information that​ could show the‍ Biden administration knew in advance the withdrawal would be chaotic.

Rep. ⁣Michael McCaul (R., Texas), ‍who‌ chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, ‌ said in May after reviewing ‌a⁣ classified cable from State Department officials⁣ at the time of the withdrawal that the Biden administration did not‍ heed warnings from U.S.⁢ officials on the ground.

The Biden administration has declined to take responsibility for the chaotic ​withdrawal. ⁣White House spokesman ‌John Kirby in April placed blame on the‍ Trump administration, saying‌ the Biden administration was‍ not given plans for ⁢the withdrawal during its transition into office. Kirby said “not everything” about the withdrawal was “perfect” but that there ‍is a lot to be “proud of.”