White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is firing back at Fox News reporter Peter Doocy after suggesting Americans are “stranded” in Afghanistan.
During a White House press briefing Monday, Doocy asked Psaki, “Does the president have a sense that most of the criticism is not of leaving Afghanistan, it’s the way that he has ordered it to happen, by pulling these troops before getting these Americans who are now stranded?”
Psaki replied, “First of all, I think it’s irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home. We are in touch with them via phone, via text, via email, via any way that we can possibly reach Americans to get them home if they want to return home.”
Doocy asked for clarification, “There are no Americans stranded is the White House’s official position on what’s happening in Afghanistan right now?”
Psaki explained, “I’m just calling you out for saying that we are stranding Americans in Afghanistan when we have been very clear that we are not leaving Americans who want to return home, we are going to bring them home and I think that’s important for the American public to hear and understand.”
Watch the exchange below:
"I think it's irresponsible to say Americans are 'stranded'" — Jen Psaki to Peter Doocy pic.twitter.com/0ZwZ8BkZ19
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 23, 2021
Some Republican lawmakers have also accused the Biden administration of leaving Americans behind in Afghanistan.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) tweeted, “President Biden’s withdraw in Afghanistan has been recklessly negligent. We must do more to save stranded American citizens.”
President Biden's withdraw in Afghanistan has been recklessly negligent. We must do more to save stranded American citizens. pic.twitter.com/vfUefrRXUp
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) August 16, 2021
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also tweeted, “France and the U.K. are having their troops leave the lines of the Kabul airport to help evacuate their citizens. Why has President Biden not directed the same to save stranded Americans?”
France and the U.K. are having their troops leave the lines of the Kabul airport to help evacuate their citizens.
Why has President Biden not directed the same to save stranded Americans?— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) August 20, 2021
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) claimed Americans “are stranded in Afghanistan because the Biden administration doesn’t have the will and leadership to get them out.”
Let's set the record straight:
Americans are stranded in Afghanistan because the Biden administration doesn't have the will and leadership to get them out.— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) August 23, 2021
On Friday, Biden told Americans who want to get out of Afghanistan, “We will get you home.”