Biden's hostage crisis keeps growing

Imagine if Joe Biden told Americans the truth in August when he was wrapping up his disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal – that he was breaking his promise to get every American out and was leaving over 500 U.S. citizens behind.

But instead, his administration claimed the number was only 100. We are now learning that’s not the truth, and the real number of Americans trapped behind terrorist lines keeps growing.

• For weeks, the administration insisted the number of Americans trapped in Afghanistan was “around 100” (see the full outline of the MANY times here).
• Last week, the State Department told congressional staff the number was 363 American citizens, 176 who are ready to leave.
• Yesterday, Biden’s Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl told Congress there are 439 American citizens stranded in Afghanistan, 196 who are ready to depart.

For weeks, the Biden administration claimed they abandoned “around 100” Americans in Afghanistan.

Last week, they said it was 363.

Now, they admit at least 439 Americans are still stranded. pic.twitter.com/C14TJnQDEH

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 26, 2021

The number of American citizens reported by the administration jumped by over 200 from their original claims, and by almost 80 in under a week.

WATCH: The number of Americans Biden left behind keeps growing

Is this because they never bothered to get an accurate number before evacuating U.S. troops? Or were they lying to cover themselves politically as they put American lives in danger?

Those are the choices, reckless negligence and incompetence or a callous and dishonest administration more concerned about politics than American lives.

Neither is acceptable. The American people deserve answers. The American people deserve accountability.