January 1, Despite casualties and hundreds left behind, Biden calls Afghanistan withdrawal ‘extraordinary success’

President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Tuesday, calling the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan an “extraordinary success,” despite the ISIS-led deaths of service members and hundreds of American citizens being left behind.

“As we close 20 years of war and strife and pain and sacrifice, it’s time to look to the future, not the past,” Biden said at the end of his speech, which had been delayed nearly two hours.

“The bottom line, 90 percent of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave,” Biden said.

Republicans say Biden abandoned US citizens after he vowed last week not to leave any American behind.

“Joe Biden promised American citizens in Afghanistan that he would stay until he got them out. When the rubber hit the road, Joe Biden kept his promise with the Taliban, and he broke his promise to Americans,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said.

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Biden claims Afghanistan withdrawal ‘extraordinary success’ in address to nation