Aug 23, 2021 - World

Former Trump Pentagon chief says U.S. troop withdrawal date was never fixed

Rebecca Falconer

Christopher Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, testifies during a Senate hearing on September 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. — Christopher Miller, then director of the National Counterterrorism Center, during a September Senate hearing in Washington, D.C. Photo: Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images

Chris Miller, the Trump administration's last acting defense secretary, told CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" Monday evening that there was never a concrete date to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Why it matters: Former President Trump has said President Biden should have stuck to the previous administration's May 1 deadline. But Miller told CNN's Chris Cuomo that there was always the provision for officials to "move the goal posts" on the date if required.

He said the May 1 date was part "an ongoing strategy" during negotiations with the Taliban.

The big picture: Biden and Trump have blamed each other for the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power.

Biden is being pressed by world leaders to extend the Aug. 31 deadline for withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan as countries step up efforts to evacuate citizens and Afghan allies amid a worsening security situation.

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Former Trump Pentagon chief says U.S. troop withdrawal date was never fixed

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