The Democratic National Committee deleted a social media post Monday after veterans in their own party denounced it as a cynical attempt to blame President Trump for the deaths of 13 service members killed during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.
The DNC’s post attempted to link Trump to Iranian military actions, listing the names and ranks of service members who died at Abbey Gate during the Biden administration’s evacuation from Kabul. The post came as tensions with Iran have dominated recent headlines, but the timing and framing drew immediate fire from combat veterans serving in Congress.
Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, an Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient, called the post “incredibly distasteful” in a public response that forced DNC officials to backtrack. Other Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds quickly piled on, making clear the party’s messaging operation had crossed a line.
The 13 Americans died on August 26, 2021, when a suicide bomber detonated explosives outside Kabul’s airport as thousands of desperate Afghans mobbed the gates during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal. The attack, claimed by ISIS-K, represented the deadliest day for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in a decade. Gold Star families have spent years demanding accountability for decisions that left their loved ones exposed at Abbey Gate.
The DNC’s attempt to reframe those deaths around current Iran policy sparked accusations of ghoulish political opportunism. Military families have long complained that both parties treat their losses as props rather than addressing the chain-of-command failures that led to the Abbey Gate massacre.
Critics noted the bitter irony of Democrats invoking service member deaths from an operation overseen by their own administration. The withdrawal, ordered by President Biden, has faced sustained criticism for its execution, with Republicans and some Democrats questioning why troops remained at a single, vulnerable chokepoint as the August 31 deadline approached.
The deleted post reflects broader tensions within the Democratic coalition as the party navigates attacks on Trump’s Iran policy while defending its own Afghanistan record. Veterans in Congress, who typically provide political cover on military issues, proved unwilling to let the messaging stand.
For Gold Star families still seeking answers about Abbey Gate, the episode represents another disappointment. Their sons and daughters become political footballs while basic questions about intelligence failures and security protocols remain unanswered nearly five years later.
The DNC has not issued a formal apology or explained who approved the post before it went live.
Key Points
- The DNC attempted to link Trump to deaths that occurred during Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal, drawing immediate backlash from veterans in their own party
- Representative Jason Crow and other Democratic combat veterans publicly condemned the post as distasteful, forcing its removal
- Gold Star families continue waiting for accountability nearly five years after the Abbey Gate attack killed 13 Americans
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/05/sick-dnc-ghouls-politicize-death-13-service-members/ – May 26, 2026
