Donald Trump suggests he’ll do trade deal with TALIBAN if he’s re-elected in 2024 to regain control of Bagram Airfield to keep an eye on China
Donald Trump has suggested he will strike a trade deal with the Taliban if re-elected president in 2024.
Speaking to a crowd at Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Saturday, the former president said he would do so to regain control of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and keep an eye on China.
The United States left the military facility on July 2, 2021 before U.S. forces completely withdrew from the country weeks later on August 30.
But former President Trump responded Saturday to the decision to hand control of Bagram Airfield to Afghan forces during a campaign rally in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
The 77-year-old claimed the base is an hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles and said it is now occupied by them.
He told the crowd he wanted to get Bagram Airfield back as part of a trade deal with Afghanistan.
Donald Trump has suggested he will strike a trade deal with the Taliban if re-elected president in 2024 to regain control of Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and keep an eye on China.
The United States left the military facility on July 2, 2021 before U.S. forces completely withdrew from the country weeks later on August 30.
“We would keep Bagram,” Trump told the crowd at the event. ‘Bagram is the largest base there is, anywhere in the world.
“The largest runways, the most powerful, can carry concrete 8 feet deep. They can hold everything and we’ve given up.’
He added that he did not want it for Afghanistan, but wanted to keep an eye on China.
“I wanted it because that’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles, and we gave up.
‘Why did we give up? This thing cost billions of dollars many years ago. We didn’t need it for Afghanistan, but it was right next to where they make their missiles, China.”
‘Now do you know who occupies it? China,” Trump claimed. “China occupies it. How stupid are these people? It’s so sad.’
However, he suggested he would get Bagram Airfield back if re-elected next year by striking a deal with Afghanistan, which has been ruled by Taliban warlords since President Biden withdrew from the country in August 2021.
Diplomacy with the extremist group seems unlikely. They were ousted from power by the US in 2001 for harboring September 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
“But we’ll get it back,” Trump said. “We’ll get it back, maybe we’ll get it back as part of a trade deal.
“Give us the damn airport back.”
Bagram Airfield was the largest US military base in Afghanistan at the time before it was secretly evacuated in July 2021.
It was returned to the Afghan government before falling into the hands of Taliban insurgents on August 15, 2021, after the NATO-trained Afghan army surrendered.
Trump’s visit to Iowa was part of his fall push to sign up supporters and volunteers for the state’s fast-approaching caucuses that will kick off the race for the Republican presidential nomination.
But former President Trump responded Saturday to the decision to hand control of Bagram Airfield to Afghan forces during a campaign rally in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
The 77-year-old claimed the base is an hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles and said it is now occupied by them.
It was the latest in a series of targeted regional stops aimed at appealing to the large crowds the former president is drawing to press attendees to commit to voting for him and serving as county leaders on Jan. 15.
While Trump boasted that polls show him far ahead of other contenders, he urged attendees Saturday to show up on caucus day to “make sure we get a big win,” a signal to other candidates would be that they would have to drop out.
“Will you please give me a good show?” Trump asked the audience to applaud. “It’s the least you can do.”
Although Trump has a comfortable lead over his main rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, in early polls of likely caucus participants, Trump’s campaign has been more aggressive in Iowa than in any of the others states with early voting whatsoever.
And he continued to attack both DeSantis and Haley during his appearance Saturday, criticizing the Florida governor for his past opposition to federal ethanol mandates and for opposing Trump.
Trump has made regular stops in Iowa over the past eight weeks, appearing at eight events before audiences totaling more than 16,000 people, according to details provided by Trump’s Secret Service.
It’s part of a 2024 strategy that puts more emphasis on organizing than in his 2016 campaign, when he finished in second place.