Former president Donald Trump
(Picture: C-SPAN)During Trump’s presidency, some of his critics described the Republican’s tenure as “childish”, but in the latest, wildest twist from the businessman, it appears as though he was advised on how to deal with the conflict in Afghanistan by an actual child.
Speaking at a rally in Alabama on Saturday, Trump said he asked the child “what would you do” in relation to the military’s involvement in the country.
“Would you leave the military until everything’s out, including civilians and all of that incredible military equipment, or would you have the military out first?”
Impersonating a five-year-old child – which, some might argue, wouldn’t be the first time – he replied to himself: “’Sir, leave the military in … I’d leave the military in. Get everything out first.’”
Trump then went on to add that he was advised not to tell the story of their supposed encounter because it was not “appropriate”, but insisted that the anecdote was “true”.
It comes despite Trump’s administration securing the Doha agreement with the Taliban, signed in February 2020, which guaranteed the “announcement of a timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan” in exchange for the insurgents committing themselves not to use the country to attack “the security of the United States and its allies”.
Despite this agreement, the country would later fall to the Taliban, with Ashraf Ghani, Afghanistan’s president, fleeing abroad.
Of course, many people were sceptical of Trump’s claims – especially given that a five-year-old child referred to him as “sir”:
These "conversations" are always conversations he has in his head. And every conversation he has in his head is with a 5 year old. https://t.co/QBGpHom40H
— Maximillian Potter (@maxapotter) August 22, 2021
First time I've heard Trump giving the "sir" routine while imitating a child's voice. https://t.co/kIP51O7Sio
— Amit Serper (@0xAmit) August 22, 2021
You really, really can’t make this shit up. He even has the 5yo calling him “sir.” https://t.co/4z6EB7hsIh
— Ryan Chapline (@ryanchapline) August 22, 2021
Omg. He’s gone from the Sir story to a child story lol.
— Roberta 🌴🏄🏽♀️ (@RobertaByTheSea) August 22, 2021
"Why a four-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a four-year-old child. I can't make head or tail out of it.” pic.twitter.com/sN8wH5qDCI
— Eric Williams (@Eric_Williams_1) August 22, 2021
The usual, "Sir" story. And there is a very good reason they told him NOT to tell that story. But it's Trump. And he knows better than anybody.
— Leasha Knight (@LeashaKnight) August 22, 2021
Here’s that child now. pic.twitter.com/FQCPjcUa7f
— Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) August 22, 2021
Another “Sir” story just exposes that this is undoubtedly a lie. Also, there is a strong likelihood that the “5 year old” he is referring to is his reflection in the mirror
— Buckshot LaFunk (@Buck_LaFunk) August 22, 2021
Live footage of Mr Trump’s 5 year old advisor pic.twitter.com/0IyIB1cCvf
— RenoSparksCow (@RenoCow) August 22, 2021
So why did he withdraw all those troops without taking civilians or equipment?
— LAWoman 💉💉 (@pamster2009) August 22, 2021
He would be outmatched by a five year old.
— Karen Thomas (@kt1202proudRN) August 22, 2021
Given the nature of Trump’s remarks, it’s rather fitting that many people think he’s kidding…
