House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, and yes they do exist, took President Joe Biden to task for ignoring the 13 American families who lost loved ones in the Afghanistan troop withdrawal last August, saying, “we are forever indebted to you.”
McCarthy’s comments came on Tuesday evening. During the president’s speech, which lasted for 62-minutes, he made absolutely no mention of the 13 U.S. military members who died during a bombing in Kabul that occurred in the last days of his military withdrawal.
“To the 13 American families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan in August, you deserved to be recognized by the President tonight,” McCarthy stated. “Americans remember your sacrifice, and we are forever indebted to you.”
To the 13 American families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan in August, you deserved to be recognized by the President tonight.
Americans remember your sacrifice, and we are forever indebted to you.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) March 2, 2022
Here are a list of the 13 soldiers who were killed during the terrorist attack at the Kabul airport:
- Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
- Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Roseville, California.
- Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California.
- Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska.
- Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana.
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas.
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming.
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California.
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California.
- Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.
- Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.
McCarthy was not alone in his words against Biden over ignoring the fallen 13.
“President Biden won’t say their names. We will always remember,” North Carolina Republican Rep. Greg Murphy posted in a tweet following the State of the Union address.
President Biden won’t say their names. We will always remember:
Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31
Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23
Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22
— Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (@RepGregMurphy) March 2, 2022
“Biden should have paid tribute to the 13 fallen HEROES in Afghanistan that lost their lives,” former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Twitter.
Biden should have paid tribute to the 13 fallen HEROES in Afghanistan that lost their lives.
He did not during #SOTU2022.
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) March 2, 2022
Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert also drew attention for calling out “13” during the president’s speech.
.@laurenboebert gives Biden a stern reminder of the 13 fallen American heroes who died during Biden's disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal after he FAILS to even mention them at his #SOTU:
Yells "13" to his FACE.
WATCH THIS. pic.twitter.com/Bfb3k5BsNR
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) March 2, 2022
Republican Rep. Ken Calvert of California said in September that an ISIS-K terrorist was released from a U.S. airbase before killing 13 U.S. service members and dozens of Afghan civilians in a terror attack on Kabul’s airport in August.
This is the ultimate disrespect and puts on display the total lack of concern the Biden administration has for the military.