Secretary of State Antony Blinken tried to "shirk responsibility" for "the disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan" during his testimony before Congress on Wednesday, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Newsmax.
Blinken testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he defended the withdrawal from Afghanistan and faulted the Trump administration for not properly preparing for the withdrawal.
"After three plus years of obfuscating, refusing to take accountability, yesterday really was the icing on the cake," Lawler told Thursday's "Wake Up America."
The congressman accused Blinken of "trying to shirk responsibility and blame Donald Trump and his administration for negotiating the Doha Agreement, which was the basis for the withdrawal."
"What they failed to recognize is that the Doha Agreement was conditions-based, and the conditions on the ground had deteriorated so badly that you saw the disastrous result, including the death of 13 U.S. Service members," Lawler said.
Blinken said during the hearing that "the Taliban was in violation of the Doha Agreement in a number of ways. It was in violation when the previous administration drew down forces repeatedly. It was in violation during the time that we were in office before the evacuation."
Lawler told Blinken that "this is his legacy, the disastrous withdrawal in Afghanistan resulted in the chaos and destruction that we see around the globe."
"We are in the most precarious place since the lead up to World War II," he added, "because of this administration's failed foreign policy and the weakness that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and [Chinese President Xi Jinping], the Ayatollah and others saw as a result of this disastrous withdrawal."
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE – See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.