President Joe Biden is sending a message to “any American who wants to come home” from Afghanistan.
While delivering remarks on Friday, Biden said, “We will get you home. Make no mistake, this evacuation mission is dangerous and involves risks to our armed forces, and it’s being conducted under difficult circumstances. I cannot promise what the final outcome will be or what it will be, that it will be without risk of loss.”
He added, “But as commander in chief, I can assure you that I will mobilize every resource necessary, and as an American, I offer my gratitude to the brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces who are carrying out this mission. They’re incredible.”
Watch his remarks below:
Biden: "Any American who wants to come home, we will get you home." pic.twitter.com/iWD5M7haoF
— Axios (@axios) August 20, 2021
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos noted during an interview with Biden this week, “We’ve got like 10 to 15,000 Americans in the country right now. Right?”
He asked the president, “Are you committed to making sure that the troops stay until every American who wants to be out is out?”
Biden responded, “Yes.”
When asked whether “Americans should understand that troops might have to be there beyond August 31,” Biden answered, “No. Americans should understand that we’re gonna try to get it done before Aug. 31st.”
Stephanopoulos continued, “But if we don’t, the troops will stay.”
Biden chimed in, “If, if we don’t, we’ll determine at the time who’s left.”
He explained, “And if you’re American force, if there’s American citizens left, we’re gonna stay to get them all out.”
According to Biden, as of Friday afternoon, there were roughly 6,000 American troops on the ground to help with the evacuation. Since August 14, approximately 13,000 people have been evacuated.
During the ABC interview, Biden doubled down on his decision to pull troops out, saying, “There is no good time to leave Afghanistan.”