Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the recovery of billions of dollars’ worth of American military equipment left behind in Afghanistan during the chaotic withdrawal in 2021.
During his first Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump also advocated for the removal of military officials involved in what he described as a disastrous exit.
“We left billions, tens of billions of dollars’ worth of equipment behind. Brand new trucks,” Trump said. “You see them display it every year, on their little roadways. That’s all top-of-the-line stuff. I think we should get a lot of that equipment back.”
A 2022 report from the Department of Defense revealed that the Taliban had taken control of most of the over $7 billion worth of U.S. military equipment left in Afghanistan. While significant assets were either removed or destroyed, some aircraft, ground vehicles, and weapons were abandoned. The Pentagon has noted that much of this equipment would likely become inoperable without U.S. maintenance.
‘Afghanistan is one of biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, they’re selling the equipment we left them’ — Trump intends to get it back https://t.co/hEq9pTZqd7 pic.twitter.com/WTPUQC3g3d
— RT (@RT_com) February 26, 2025
Trump alleged that the Taliban, now governing Afghanistan, has been selling U.S.-made military equipment on a large scale, making the country “one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world.”
“Can you believe it? They’re selling 777,000 rifles, 70,000 armor-plated… trucks and vehicles… this is 70,000 vehicles we had there, and we left it for them. I think we should get it back,” he said.
He also emphasized the need for accountability regarding the withdrawal, making it clear that he expects top military officials responsible for the exit to face consequences. While he stated that he would not interfere with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decisions, he conveyed his strong opinion. “I’m not going to tell this man what to do, but I will say that if I had his place, I’d fire every single one of them, Pete,” Trump remarked.
Hegseth confirmed that under his leadership, the Department of Defense is conducting a full review of the withdrawal and intends to take action. “We’re taking a very different view, obviously, than the previous administration,” he said, referencing Trump’s selection of retired Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan “Razin” Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “And there will be full accountability.”
Trump anticipates that the Pentagon’s review will lead to the removal of most generals involved in the withdrawal, which resulted in abandoned military assets, the stranding of American citizens and allies, and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate outside Kabul’s airport.
“I don’t see a big promotion in that group,” Trump said. “I think they’re going to be largely gone. That was a horrible display.”
Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, who oversaw the withdrawal, previously testified that the situation in Afghanistan was the result of years of decisions. “Like any complex phenomena, there was no single causal factor that determined the outcome,” he stated.
Additionally, Trump called for the Taliban to return the U.S. military equipment they seized, accusing them of profiting from abandoned American weapons. “I think they should give our equipment back. And I told Pete to study that,” he said.
