U.S. vice president criticizes Taliban, calls withdrawal from Afghanistan a ‘Catastrophic Error’

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday condemned the Taliban, calling them “one of the worst terrorist organizations in the world” and criticizing the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, news reports said.

Speaking at a Space Force facility in Greenland, Vance accused the Biden administration of abandoning $80 billion in military assets and causing the deaths of 13 American troops.

His remarks mark the first time a senior Trump administration official has explicitly labeled the Taliban as a terrorist group since returning to office.

The comments come amid renewed attention on Afghanistan following a U.S. delegation’s visit to Kabul, the first under Taliban rule, and the release of American detainee George Glezmann.

The Trump administration has not outlined a clear policy on Afghanistan, but analysts suggest Vance’s rhetoric reflects frustration over the withdrawal’s legacy. Meanwhile, Taliban officials have expressed interest in improving ties with Washington despite uncertainty over U.S. policy.