Nearly 200,000 Afghans have arrived in the U.S. since the Biden administration oversaw the chaotic military withdrawal from Kabul. Now, former President Donald Trump says he’s stepping in to aid some of those left behind.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump said he would “try to save” a group of Afghans who have been stuck in the United Arab Emirates for years. His statement came in response to a news article about the long-detained evacuees.
“I will try to save them, starting right now,” Trump wrote, signaling rare support for the stranded refugees.
The UAE, a key U.S. security partner, agreed in 2021 to temporarily house thousands of Afghans who were airlifted out of Kabul as the Taliban retook power following the collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government. Many of the evacuees have remained in limbo ever since.
In 2022, Canada stepped in to resettle around 1,000 of those evacuees at the request of the United States. It remains unclear how many Afghans are still waiting in the UAE.
Since the fall of Kabul, the Biden administration has brought nearly 200,000 Afghans to the U.S. These include former U.S. military allies, relatives of U.S. service members, children awaiting reunification with parents, and others connected to the U.S. mission during the 20-year war.
Despite his earlier opposition to refugee resettlement and immigration programs, Trump’s latest remarks suggest a shift in tone — at least for some Afghans caught in a years-long wait.
