US President Donald Trump is demanding the return of billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment abandoned in Afghanistan following the chaotic 2021 troop withdrawal.
Trump, during his first cabinet meeting, stated, “We left billions, tens of billions of dollars’ worth of equipment behind, brand-new trucks,” adding, “You see them display it every year, or their little roadway, someplace where they have a road and they drive the, you know, waving the flag and talking about America … that’s all the top-of-the-line stuff. I think we should get a lot of that equipment back.”
He further criticized the withdrawal, asserting that the Taliban are now profiting from the abandoned equipment, transforming Afghanistan into “one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world.”
Trump cited figures, claiming, “They’re selling 777,000 rifles, 70,000 armour plated . . . trucks and vehicles, I think we should get it back.” He also criticized the decision to relinquish control of Bagram Air Base.
A 2022 Department of Defense report confirmed that the Taliban seized over $7 billion worth of US equipment during the withdrawal.
While the US military removed or destroyed much of its major equipment during the drawdown, significant amounts of military hardware, including aircraft, ground vehicles, and weapons, were left behind. The Pentagon report acknowledged that much of this equipment would likely be inoperable without US contractor maintenance.
Trump’s comments followed questions about potential disciplinary action against military leaders involved in the withdrawal. While stating he wouldn’t directly instruct Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump declared he would “fire every single one of them.”
Several key figures from that period, including General Kenneth McKenzie and General Mark Milley, have since retired or left their positions. Both had previously advised President Biden to retain a US military presence in Afghanistan. Thirteen US service members were killed during the withdrawal process itself. The withdrawal itself was built upon plans from the Trump administration in 2020 to end the 20-year war.
