As the United States continues to grapple with the deteriorating security situation in Kabul in light of the Taliban's recent takeover of Afghanistan, former President Donald Trump is making headlines for yet another absurd claim.
Trump, known for making head-scratching headlines, claimed that he received military advice from an actual child.
During a rally in Cullman, Alabama on Saturday, Trump claimed he asked a five-year-old child "what would you do" in relation to the U.S. military's involvement in Afghanistan.
You can watch footage of Trump's remarks below.
Trump began with the following:
"I asked a child, 'So what would you do?' after describing––'Would you leave the military after everything's out, including the civilians and all that incredible military equipment or would you have the military go out first?'"
He then raised the pitch of his voice and proceeded to impersonate a 5-year-old child:
"Sir, leave the military in … I'd leave the military in. Get everything out first.'"
Switching back to his own voice, Trump continued:
"I said, 'Thank you very much,' but they didn't want me to tell that story. They thought it was not an appropriate story, but it's true."
"This is a 5-year-old kid. Five or six. Five or 6-year-old kid."
"And this is what we're stuck with."
Missing from Trump's patently false story is the fact he was in charge of the armed forces at the time plans to withdraw from Afghanistan were decided.
The Trump administration had proposed leaving Afghanistan by January 15, 2021.
In April, Trump put himself at odds with other Republicans when he suggested American troops should leave Afghanistan ahead of President Joe Biden's proposed deadline of September 11.
Are we supposed to believe 5-year-olds were just hanging out at the White House ready to give Trump some pointers?
People weren't buying it.
Trump was swiftly criticized for creating another such obviously false story.
Trump's statements came a day before Mike Pompeo, his former Secretary of State, sought to distance himself from the ongoing chaos in Kabul despite brokering the Trump administration's deal with the Taliban.
Pompeo blamed President Biden for the Taliban's takeover even though Biden had merely pledged to honor the Trump administration's agreement, albeit on an extended deadline.
Speaking on Fox News, Pompeo said:
"When the Taliban pushed on the Trump administration, we pushed back even harder and imposed real cost and when the Biden administration pushed, they withdrew to a commercial airport that in no way has the capacity to get our people out with the speed that needs to happen to keep them safe."
"This is an incompetent method of getting our folks out and presents real risk."
"I pray that we get them all home but I'm watching today even now they haven't yet organized in a way to push the American power out in a way to make sure that we can get Americans out of the country."
Revisionist history strikes again.
@IrnaEnglish/X
