President Joe Biden was criticized for filming an amusing segment with Jay Leno on the anniversary of last year’s terrorist attack in Kabul.
Friday marked the one-year anniversary of the 2021 Kabul airport attack that left 13 U.S. servicemembers dead during President Joe Biden’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal that also left hundreds of Americans stranded in the country, which was swiftly taken over by the Taliban following America’s departure.
On Aug. 26, 2021, 13 service members were killed in Afghanistan at a Kabul airport gate when a suicide bomber detonated explosives near U.S. troops. Sgt. Nicole Gee, Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover and Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss are laid to rest in Section 60. Their service is honored. pic.twitter.com/frWkP7dpFx
— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) August 26, 2022
On Friday, Biden filmed a playful segment about cars for an upcoming episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
His father, Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover — one of the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed in Kabul last year — spent his Friday at Arlington National Cemetery, where his son lies.
. @jayleno with @POTUS talking electric vehicles for an upcoming episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. First, let’s take a ride in the corvette. pic.twitter.com/8WVXEpdxRG
— Meghan Hays (@MegHays46) August 26, 2022
“He’s tone-deaf and sensitive. It’s ridiculous,” Hoover told Daily Mail. I don’t think the world will stop to honor our children. But at least, it should do something .”
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We went to Arlington, and we laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Why can’t he do something in memory of all 13,” the father continued. It must be remembered
“To hold such solemn ceremonies, to have people present, the meaning thereof,” he said. It doesn’t change anything, but it helps to remember that they won’t be forgotten .”
Biden seemed to be happy while speaking to the media on Friday about his meeting with Leno.
” “It was fantastic, it was a lot fun,” said the president. We talked about electric cars and how they will change America’s environment. It was great .”
” “It was more fun to drive an older Corvette,” Biden said. And that Ford Lightning? Man, that Ford Lightning was a blast to drive again. It was an extremely fast SOB .”
Biden: It was great fun filming with Leno. We talked about how electric cars are going to change the nature of our environment.”
“It was even more fun driving my old corvette… And they had that Ford Lightning vehicle, got to drive that again too. That was a fast SOB.” pic.twitter.com/I8ud26B7wz— AlexGangitano (@AlexGangitano) August 26, 2022
While Biden did not appear to visit Arlington National Cemetery to pay his respects to the U.S. servicemembers killed in Kabul last year, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre suggested the president covered his bases by issuing a statement, according to a transcript of her media briefing.
Jean-Pierre was asked to comment on Hoover’s comments. Jean-Pierre stated, “This day is incredibly important that he wants that he acknowledges, and that is why he released the statement .”
“But he and the First Lady have not lost focus on those families or any of the families that have lost loved ones in this 20-year war. “We were there for over two decades and lost many lives,” the press secretary said.
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