Biden's presser: stunning, alarming, & full of lies

Biden’s press conference was alarming – he either does not know what is happening in Afghanistan or he is lying to the American people.

During the press conference he:

• Falsely said there was “no circumstance” where American citizens have been blocked from the Kabul airport despite numerous reports proving otherwise.
• Said his administration STILL doesn’t “have the exact number of Americans” in Afghanistan.
• Refused to commit to staying past August 31 if Americans are trapped in the country.
• Did not know basic facts about the U.S. presence at the airport in Kabul.
• Falsely claimed there's “no question of our credibility from our allies around the world,” even though our allies are “slamming” Biden’s withdrawal.

The disconnect between Biden’s claims and the facts on the ground was profound and deeply concerning:

• Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin: “I couldn’t fact check it fast enough because there are so many misrepresentations of what is happening on the ground.”
• CNN’s Barbara Starr: “The president has said American passport holders are not having any trouble getting past the Taliban checkpoints...Awful lot of reports that that is still very much a problem.”
• ABC News’ Ian Pannell: “breathtaking… It just seems the reality and the rhetoric are miles apart. I'm not quite sure what advice the president’s receiving, but the truth on the ground is that these people who are in fear of their lives couldn't get through.”
• CNN’s Clarissa Ward: “More than 10 hours with no evacuees being taken out of the country, which is a disaster.”
• CNN’s Susan Glasser: “Ground truth vs Washington truth…surprised to hear that assertion from President Biden that European allies haven’t questioned the decision…there is a certain credibility blow.”

President Biden has damaged his credibility.

Now in a speech and press conference he’s made statements that just do not correspond with his own previous statements and the reality of what’s on the ground in Afghanistan.

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 20, 2021

This statement alone from Austin contradicts a lot of what Biden just said at the White House about Americans not having a hard time getting to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) August 20, 2021

And now the White House has called a lid at 2:30 in the afternoon – meaning Biden is headed back into hiding for the day.

Biden needs to stop lying and actually come up with a plan to safely evacuate Americans that does not rely entirely on the word of terrorists. If he is unwillingly or unable, he should let someone take charge who can.