Trump Calls for Dismissal of Military Generals Over Afghanistan Withdrawal Criticism

Person speaking at podium with presidential seal.

President Trump demands firing of generals involved in the Afghanistan debacle, seeks recovery of billions in abandoned military equipment now in Taliban hands.

Key Insights

President Trump has called for the dismissal of military leaders responsible for the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal that left 13 U.S. service members dead.
Over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan and seized by the Taliban, including brand new vehicles and weaponry.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is conducting a “complete review” of the withdrawal to ensure “full accountability” for the strategic failures.
The Taliban now displays captured American military equipment in parades, using U.S. taxpayer-funded assets to promote anti-American propaganda.

Trump Calls for Military Leadership Accountability

In a recent Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump expressed his intention to hold military leadership accountable for the disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Speaking directly to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump suggested firing the generals who oversaw what many consider one of the most humiliating military retreats in American history. The chaotic evacuation resulted in a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and approximately 170 Afghan civilians at Kabul’s airport, leaving a permanent stain on America’s 20-year presence in the country.

“They’re going to be largely gone,” Trump stated regarding the military leaders involved in the withdrawal, though he added, “I’m not going to tell this man what to do,” referring to Defense Secretary Hegseth.

Billions in Abandoned Military Equipment

A major focus of Trump’s criticism centers on the estimated $7 billion worth of military equipment abandoned during the hasty retreat. The Taliban quickly seized these assets, which included aircraft, ground vehicles, weapons, and other advanced military technology paid for by American taxpayers. The Pentagon’s decision to leave this equipment behind has become a symbol of the strategic failure that characterized the final days of America’s longest war, and now provides the Taliban with propaganda opportunities.

“We left billions, tens of billions of dollars worth of equipment behind, brand new trucks. You see them display it every year, or their little roadway, someplace where they have a road and they drive the, you know, waving the flag and talking about America … that’s all the top of the line stuff. I think we should get a lot of that equipment back.” – Trump

This abandoned equipment includes helicopters, vehicles, and other military assets that the Taliban now proudly displays in military parades. Though Pentagon officials claimed much of the equipment would likely become inoperable without American maintenance expertise, the symbolic victory for America’s enemies remains a source of national embarrassment. Trump has indicated a desire to recover these assets, though specific plans for accomplishing this have not been detailed.

President Donald Trump has called for the firing of military generals involved in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

While speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump criticized the US military’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, calling it a “disaster”… pic.twitter.com/bhMkMWFvZ2

— Real News No Bullshit (@NewsNotBs) February 26, 2025

Review and Accountability Underway

Defense Secretary Hegseth has confirmed that his department is conducting a thorough investigation of the withdrawal. The announcement comes as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to hold officials responsible for the strategic failures that characterized the end of America’s presence in Afghanistan. Some military leaders from that period have already retired, including Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., who commanded U.S. Central Command during the withdrawal.

“We’re doing a complete review of every single aspect of what happened with the botched withdrawal of Afghanistan, and plan to have full accountability” – Pete Hegseth

Notable military figures who were integral to the withdrawal operation include Gen. Christopher Donahue, who led the 82nd Airborne Division during the evacuation and was the last U.S. soldier to board the final flight from Kabul. He remains on active duty. The Trump administration’s review comes after significant leadership changes already implemented throughout the military command structure, including the replacement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff chair and top service officials.

Strategic Failures and Disagreements

Multiple senior military leaders have acknowledged failures in the planning and execution of the withdrawal. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who oversaw the operation, took full responsibility for the loss of American troops during the evacuation. Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley has publicly stated that the evacuation should have begun earlier and that maintaining some U.S. forces in Afghanistan would have been advisable – advice that was reportedly rejected by the Biden administration.

“I was the overall commander, and I and I alone bear full military responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate.” – Gen. Kenneth McKenzie

The abandonment of Bagram Air Base, which could have provided a more secure evacuation point, remains a particular sore point for military analysts. Trump has highlighted this decision as evidence of poor strategic planning. While the Trump administration had negotiated with the Taliban to reduce America’s military footprint in Afghanistan, the speed and manner of the withdrawal carried out under President Biden has been broadly criticized across the political spectrum for its execution and the resulting chaos.