On the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, a White House email leaked to an unlikely source — and it has Vice President Kamala Harris’ administration under serious fire.
National Security Council communications adviser John Kirby found himself at the center of the new scandal after accidentally sending an email that dismissed veterans’ concerns about the U.S. military’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan under President Joe Biden and Harris’ leadership.
The incident occurred when Kirby, responding to a Fox News Digital inquiry about veterans’ criticisms of the Biden administration’s handling of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, inadvertently hit “reply all” on an email chain that included a Fox News reporter.
“Obviously no use in responding. A ‘handful’ of vets indeed and all of one stripe,” Kirby wrote in the email, dismissing their concerns.
The email was sent while Kirby was traveling with President Biden on the anniversary of 9/11. Upon realizing his mistake, Kirby followed up with the Fox News Digital reporter, stating, “Clearly, I didn’t realize you were on the chain.”
The controversy stems from criticisms by several veterans, including Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who accused Kirby of providing “cover” for the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The bottom line is that the Biden-Harris administration chose politics over strategy, and Kirby, who I wouldn’t trust to guard my grocery list, is now trying to cover for them,” Mills told Fox News.
Mark Geist, a Marine veteran who helped rescue over 100 Americans from the Taliban in 2021, criticized Kirby’s recent press conference as well.
“John Kirby delivered a one-sided presentation of facts and falsehoods regarding the recent House Report on Afghanistan. I’ll start with where Mr. Kirby finished, which was likely the only thing he said that was completely true: they pulled out of Afghanistan because they wanted to start and fund the war in Ukraine, fully aware that the American people would not tolerate being involved in two wars again,” Geist said.
The email gaffe sparked intense backlash on social media and from political figures.
Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., wrote on X —
This is how the Biden-Harris administration talks about the well-founded concerns of our nation’s veterans?
Just days after the anniversary of the deadly Afghanistan withdrawal. On the anniversary of 9/11.
Our Gold Star families deserve better.https://t.co/U9ytppHV6J— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) September 11, 2024
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-T.X., also blasted the leak in a statement.
“Retired Rear Admiral Kirby’s comments are appalling, but sadly not surprising. The Biden-Harris administration has consistently disregarded our veterans, service members, and Gold Star families over their botched withdrawal from Afghanistan.”
After the scandal broke, Kirby provided an on-the-record statement to Fox News Digital.
“While I acknowledge not every veteran agrees with them, I stand by my comments in the briefing room,” Kirby said. “What was cherry-picked and selective was the report itself. And what’s most important is that America’s longest war is over and those still serving in uniform are better positioned to meet the threats we face today.”
The incident occurred in the wake of a 350-page report released by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which criticized the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan without a comprehensive plan.
Kirby had previously defended the administration’s actions — and the deadly chaos that followed.
“President Biden, for his part, faced a stark choice when he came to office: Abide by the flawed agreement and end America’s longest war, or blow up the deal, extend the war, and see a much smaller contingent of American troops back in combat with the Taliban,” he said.
“He chose the former and was able to buy additional time to prepare for that withdrawal all the way into summer, and we, as a nation, are safer for it.”