17:07
- ABC News
- August 21, 2021
Fact-checking Biden's claims on Afghanistan crisis
Several of the president's statements on Friday contradict reporting from Kabul.
17:07
During a private, unclassified briefing with the House of Representatives shortly after Biden wrapped his remarks, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also remarkably told lawmakers that they know of Americans who have been \"beaten.\"
\"We are also aware that some people, including Americans, have been harassed and even beaten by the Taliban. This is unacceptable and [we] made it clear to the designated Taliban leader,\" Austin said, according to several sources.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/biden-harris1-ap-ml-210820_1629482861706_hpEmbed_3x2_384.jpg\")
On Wednesday, ABC News was told by an Afghan official that an American with a passport as well as a person with a green card, were turned away at the gate after risking their security to get there. One of them attempted again the following day, waiting for seven hours before leaving because they couldn't get in.
And on Thursday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. was aware of the issues of traveling to the airport, although he placed partial blame on \"congestion.\"
'What interest do we have in Afghanistan at this point, with al-Qaida gone?'
Biden claimed that al-Qaida is \"gone\" from Afghanistan, but just hours later, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby confirmed the opposite.
\"We know that al-Qaida is a presence, as well as ISIS, in Afghanistan,\" he said during a press briefing Friday afternoon. \"And we have talked about that for quite some time. We do not believe it's exorbitantly high. But we don't have an exact figure.\"
Asked why there is a contradiction between his analysis and the president's view of al-Qaida in the country, Kirby sought to clarify that there \"isn't a presence that is significant enough to merit a threat\" to the U.S.
ABC News' Ian Pannell, Cindy Smith, Conor Finnegan, Luis Martinez, Trish Turner and Mariam Khan contributed to this report.
","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Politics/fact-checking-president-bidens-claims-current-afghanistan-crisis/story?id=79565706","legacySlug":"/news/story/fact-checking-president-bidens-claims-current-afghanistan-crisis-79565706","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"04:27","publishDate":"08-21-2021","updatedTime":"04:27","updatedDate":"08-21-2021","socialImage":{"alt":"President Joe Biden speaks about the evacuation of American citizens, their families, SIV applicants and vulnerable Afghans in the East Room of the White House, Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, in Washington.","credit":"Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/Politics/joe-biden-afghanistan-remarks-ap-jc-210820_1629495177057_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"8/21/2021 04:27:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":79565706,"headline":"Fact-checking Biden's claims on Afghanistan crisis","mediaAssetTitle":"BIDEN FACT-CHECK","description":"Several of the president's statements on Friday contradict reporting from Kabul.","duration":"17:07","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2021/08/210820_abcnl_spev_biden_reportersQandA_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Fact-checking Biden's claims on Afghanistan crisis","description":"Several of the president's statements on Friday contradict reporting from Kabul.","duration":"17:07","uploadDate":"08-21-2021","publication":"08-21-2021","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2021/08/210820_abcnl_spev_biden_reportersQandA_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2021/08/210820_abcnl_spev_biden_reportersQandA_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/fact-checking-president-bidens-claims-current-afghanistan-crisis-79565706"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Fact-checking Biden's claims on Afghanistan crisis","pubTime":"00:27","pubDate":"08-21-2021","modTime":"00:27","modDate":"08-21-2021","taxonomyTags":"none","id":79565706,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Fact-checking Biden's claims on Afghanistan crisis","mediaAssetTitle":"BIDEN FACT-CHECK","videoId":79565706,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/fact-checking-president-bidens-claims-current-afghanistan-crisis-79565706"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/79565706","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/79565706","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};