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President Donald Trump on Monday signed a proclamation honoring the 13 U.S. service members killed in the 2021 Abbey Gate bombing during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Surrounded in the Oval Office by family members of the fallen, Trump praised their sacrifice and acknowledged the grief their relatives continue to bear.
“There are some great souls that are looking down on you right now, and they’re very proud of their parents and brothers and sisters. But moms and dads especially. That’s what I seem to have dealt with mostly. There’s nothing tougher,” Trump said as families stood around his desk.
The Abbey Gate attack, carried out outside Kabul’s international airport as crowds attempted to flee Afghanistan, killed 13 American troops and 170 Afghan civilians. The bombing became one of the most devastating moments of the U.S. withdrawal, which Trump has repeatedly called a disaster.
“We will never forget the names of the 13 brave souls who shed their blood for our Nation: Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, USMC; Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, USMC; Sergeant Nicole L. Gee, USMC; Corporal Hunter Lopez, USMC; Corporal Daegan W. Page, USMC; Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez, USMC; Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza, USMC; Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz, USMC; Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum, USMC; Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola, USMC; Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui, USMC; Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak, USN; and Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss, USA,” the proclamation read.
In March, Trump told a joint session of Congress that the “monster” responsible for the attack had been captured. He has sharply criticized former President Joe Biden, saying the loss of U.S. service members would not have occurred under different leadership.
Some families of the fallen have also placed blame on Biden’s handling of the withdrawal. Darin Hoover, who lost his son, Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover, said that he hopes a Trump-led investigation will hold Biden and top officials accountable. “They should all be found culpable in this,” Hoover said.
The bombing, one of the deadliest single incidents in America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan, continues to resonate with Gold Star families who argue the withdrawal was mishandled. Trump’s proclamation adds a powerful recognition of their loved ones’ service and sacrifice, while reigniting debate over the decisions that led to the attack.
