Biden has been out of office for months. But we’re still feeling the effects.
And now a former Biden official set CNN on fire with one braindead sentence.
Tempers Flare as Biden’s Legacy Takes a Hit
A CNN panel descended into chaos on Wednesday when Dan Koh, a former Biden administration official, tried to polish up the tarnished record of ex-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin by claiming he “never compromised American lives.”
With President Joe Biden now out of office, Koh’s rosy take on the past sparked a firestorm.
The former White House Deputy Cabinet Secretary kicked things off by swiping at military leadership under Trump, suggesting they endangered lives with no repercussions—a bold move for someone tied to a presidency that ended in electoral humiliation.
Koh’s Revisionism Meets Resistance
Koh pressed his point, lamenting, “That’s when people check out and realize that their democracy may not be what they thought it was.” It was a lofty jab, but one that rang hollow given Biden’s recent fall from grace.
Republican commentator Scott Jennings, quick on the draw, reminded everyone of Koh’s insider status: “You held a high-ranking position with Joe Biden.” Koh tried to parry, snapping back, “Yes, I did, you did with George W. Bush,” as if that leveled the playing field. But Jennings wasn’t there to play nice—he was ready to dismantle the Biden loyalist’s narrative.
Afghanistan Debacle Resurfaces
Jennings zeroed in with surgical precision: “Did you recall a single person in your White House or in your Democratic Party asking for the resignation of Lloyd Austin after Afghanistan, after the drone strike vaporized those kids, or after he went AWOL, yes or no?”
He was dragging up the ghost of Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal—a chaotic mess that saw Bagram Air Base shuttered, troops and civilians funneled through Kabul’s overcrowded airport, and a devastating suicide bombing that k*lled 13 American service members and dozens of Afghans.
The botched exit left American gear in Taliban hands and allies abandoned, a low point that helped seal Biden’s fate against Trump.
Koh’s Defense Crumbles
Koh stood his ground, insisting, “Secretary Austin never compromised American lives,” but the words barely landed before the panel exploded. Shouts of “That’s a no,” “He did,” and “Thirteen of them” drowned him out, as the raw memory of those lost lives shredded his claim.
Jennings, after a split-second glance at the camera—perhaps marveling at the audacity—joined the fray, roaring, “Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen American lives were more than compromised. They were ended!” It was a brutal takedown, one that emphasized the lingering bitterness over Biden’s leadership failures.
A Post-Biden Reckoning
With Biden now sidelined, replaced by a triumphant Trump, the exchange felt like a post-mortem on a presidency that couldn’t dodge its own shadow. Koh’s attempt to shield Austin—and by extension, Biden—only highlighted the disconnect between the administration’s spin and the grim reality voters rejected.
For critics, it’s a stark reminder of why Trump’s promise of strength and accountability resonated, toppling a leader whose team seemed more adept at excuses than results. The panel’s uproar wasn’t just a debate—it was a snapshot of a nation still wrestling with Biden’s costly missteps.
