DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Former President Donald Trump made the disastrous Biden administration’s withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan three years ago a focal point of his speech to the National Guard Association of the United States members in Detroit on Monday afternoon.

“It’s the most embarrassing day in the history in our country,” Trump told a crowd at Huntington Place. “It gave us Russia into Ukraine, Oct 7…and we’re not respected now.”

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Trump made national security and the sacrifice of service members the theme of the day. On Monday morning, Trump honored the 13 service members who died on Aug. 26, 2021 in that botched withdrawal and subsequent suicide bombing. He joined the families of those service members at a private event at Arlington National Cemetery.

President Joe Biden was a no show since he’s vacationing at a Deleware beach, but the White House did release a statement. 

Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement as well, but did not have any events on her schedule for Monday. Starting on Wednesday, she and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz will take a bus tour to visit voters Georgia.

In an unexpected twist, former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke in the middle of Trump’s speech.  The disavowed Democrat, who served in the Hawaii National Guard and deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, said she felt the sorrow that Trump shared with those families in Arlington.

“This is personal for me as I know it is for you,” Gabbard said. She emphasized that Trump’s first time in office marked the de-escalation of wars.

“The same cannot be said about Kamala Harris,” Gabbard said. “The opposite is true and we are living through this reality today. I am working to send him back to the White House to have him become our Commander in Chief.”

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Gabbard has also endorsed Trump in his bid for the presidency.

As Trump concluded his one-hour speech, he alluded to the attempted assassination on his life last month. He left the crowd with the same words as he did on July 13, 2024.

“We will fight, fight, fight for America!”