Joe Biden has faced criticism for blaming the Taliban’s takeover on Afghanistan officials and Donald Trump while standing firmly by his own decision to withdraw US troops.
The US president insisted he had to decide between asking American forces to fight endlessly in what he called Afghanistan’s civil war or follow through on an agreement to withdraw negotiated by his predecessor.
Scenes of chaos unfolded at the airport in the capital of Kabul, as Taliban fighters swept into the city.
During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan defended the withdrawal after 20 years of American “blood, treasure, sweat, and tears”.
Mr Sullivan also said that his heart goes out to Afghanistan’s women and girls, and would not commit to ensuring every American is out of the country by the end of the month.
Reporting by The Wall Street Journal says that the president overruled the advice of his top generals to keep a small force of troops in the country.
