Trump Signs Proclamation Commemorating Fourth Anniversary of Abbey Gate Attack

WASHINGTON (Aug. 25, 2025) - President Donald Trump on Monday signed a presidential proclamation in the Oval Office to mark the fourth anniversary of the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, an attack that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 100 Afghan civilians during the final stages of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Surrounded by Gold Star families of the fallen troops, Trump described the 2021 bombing as “one of the worst and most embarrassing days in our nation’s history” and sharply criticized his successor, President Joe Biden, for what he called a “disorderly withdrawal” that left U.S. forces exposed to attack. The proclamation, which designates Aug. 26 as a national day of remembrance, honors the memory of the 13 American service members and reaffirms a commitment to “protect American lives, defend American interests, and uphold American sovereignty”.

During the signing ceremony, Trump was joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President J.D. Vance. Hegseth announced that the Pentagon is conducting a thorough review of the Afghanistan withdrawal under President Biden, promising that the findings will be released “by middle of 2026”. Vance told the families that the proclamation serves as “a rectification of a wrong” and affirmed that their loved ones “will never be forgotten.”

In his remarks, Trump reiterated his administration’s claim to have captured the alleged ISIS-K planner behind the Abbey Gate bombing within his first months back in office. He also expressed gratitude to the media for “respectfully covering” the commemoration event and thanked the families for their “tremendous courage”.

The proclamation formally reads: “As our Nation solemnly marks four years since the attack at Abbey Gate, we honor the memory of the 13 brave souls and every military service member to ever die in the line of duty” and urges Americans to “remember the heroism of the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and the Gold Star Families who carry on their proud legacy.”