In Interview, Trump Defends Russia’s Arming Of The Taliban
JakeThomas
President Donald Trump appeared to brush off the issue of Russia providing weapons to the Taliban during a recent interview with Axios, saying the United States had at one time done the same thing.
- After dismissing intelligence that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Trump seemed to excuse the country for arming the Taliban.
- Trump said: “Well, we supplied weapons when they were fighting Russia too. The Taliban, in Afghanistan... I’m just saying, we did that too.”
- The president also said intelligence on the matter “never reached my desk,” though Axios noted that the former head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan had been quite clear on the issue.
In 2018, Gen. John Nicholson, then the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, accused Russia of providing money and arms to the group, saying, "we know that the Russians are involved."
Trump stated that he was not aware of Nicholson’s comments.
Pressed further on the subject, the president launched into a story about Russia’s history with Afghanistan.
Watch:
