Donald Trump has a long history with the establishment. They are always trying to undermine him.
But that’s why Trump was dumbfounded by what this White House national security advisor just said about him.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Defends Biden’s Foreign Policy Amid Criticism of Afghanistan Withdrawal
On Sunday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan appeared on CNN’s State of the Union and asserted that the United States is “better off” internationally under President Joe Biden’s leadership, particularly when compared to four years ago. Sullivan defended the administration’s approach to global affairs, including its controversial withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members.
In the interview, CNN host Jake Tapper questioned Sullivan about whether Biden’s foreign policy decisions would leave the United States “safer” as his presidency nears its end. Sullivan responded by emphasizing the strength of America’s alliances.
“Well, I’d start by saying our alliances are stronger than we found them four years ago. They’re stronger than they’ve been in decades. NATO is more powerful, purposeful and bigger,” Sullivan explained. “Our alliances in the Asia Pacific are at all-time highs and our adversaries and competitors are weaker across the board. Russia’s weaker. Iran’s weaker. China’s weaker. All the while we kept America out of war. So I think the American people are safer and the country is better off than we were four years ago.”
Sullivan’s statement focused on the idea that American alliances, particularly with NATO and in the Asia-Pacific region, have significantly improved under Biden’s leadership. He also pointed to the perceived weakening of adversaries such as Russia, Iran, and China. Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising tensions with China, Sullivan maintained that the administration’s handling of these challenges kept the U.S. out of direct combat.
The U.S. has provided extensive financial and military support to both Ukraine and Israel in recent years. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has committed an estimated $56.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including both direct military aid and support through various initiatives. Additionally, following the terrorist attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the U.S. has provided approximately $12.5 billion in military aid to Israel.
Sullivan also addressed the future of America’s security, suggesting that President Biden will hand off a stronger nation to his successor, including “the engines of American power humming — our economy, our technology, our defense industrial base, our supply chains.”
Chaotic Afghanistan Pullout Stains Biden Administration Permanently
However, Tapper pointed to a major point of criticism — the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the Taliban’s swift return to power. Tapper raised questions regarding a report suggesting that Sullivan had considered resigning due to the failure of the withdrawal. Sullivan responded carefully, saying, “I can’t tell you what I talked about with him personally and privately. What I can tell you is that the United States of America is definitively better off that we are not entering our 25th year of Americans fighting and dying in Afghanistan.”
Sullivan continued to defend the decision, arguing that the Biden administration’s strategic decision to end the war in Afghanistan was ultimately the right one. “If we were still in Afghanistan today, Americans would be fighting and dying, Russia would have more leverage over us, we would be less able to respond to the major strategic challenges we face,” he said. Sullivan also pointed out that the U.S. shift in focus from a prolonged war in Afghanistan to a broader counterterrorism effort has allowed the nation to better address evolving security threats.
When pressed again by Tapper about whether he felt personally responsible for the failures of the withdrawal, Sullivan acknowledged the collective responsibility of the national security team. “I think the entire team, the entire national security team, has a responsibility for everything in our national security and that includes me as the national security advisor,” he said.
Sullivan also addressed concerns over the potential link between Afghanistan and terrorist activities in the U.S. He emphasized that while investigations are ongoing, no direct connection has been found between the Afghanistan withdrawal and terrorist attacks such as the one in New Orleans. He reiterated that President Biden’s assessment of the shifting nature of the terrorist threat was correct, as extremist activity has become more diffuse and decentralized, with an increasing number of homegrown attacks.
The withdrawal from Afghanistan remains one of the most contentious aspects of the Biden administration’s foreign policy. Both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have faced criticism, particularly from Gold Star families who lost loved ones in the chaotic withdrawal. Some families have accused the administration of ignoring their concerns and not providing adequate support in the wake of the tragedy.
While the Biden administration has been hanging its hat on the claim that the United States has strengthened relations with foreign allies through international alliances like NATO, critics have been suspicious of these alliances for potentially taking advantage of the good grace of the United States and her people.
Donald Trump, during his first term, successfully forced the hand of some NATO members to do a better job of fulfilling their pledge to spend a certain amount of their GDP on military defense and national security. Under the current NATO agreements, each NATO member is supposed to spend 2% of its GDP on national defense and building its military. Prior to Donald Trump’s first term, very few NATO members were actually doing that.
SCOTT JENNINGS: “Biden's going to leave office in disgrace. The Hunter Biden pardon was disgraceful. He'll be remembered for inflation and for the disastrous Afghanistan pullout, and the coverup on his health and mental acuity.” pic.twitter.com/qUy8TlHaKo
— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) December 29, 2024
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