Biden Says US Troops Could Stay Longer In Kabul To Rescue "All Americans"

When asked in an ABC interview if the troops would stay until every American who wants to be has been evacuated, US President Joe Biden replied: "Yes."

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that US troops won't leave any Americans behind in Afghanistan, even if it means staying in Taliban-controlled Kabul for longer than agreed. In his first interview since the Taliban seized the Afghan capital, sparking a panicked exodus by foreigners and Afghan allies, Biden told ABC News that "chaos" had been unavoidable. US leaders have said they are sticking to an August 31 deadline for removing the last troops and handing over the country to the victorious Taliban. However, Biden said for the first time that US soldiers could stay longer if any Americans were still trying to flee. "If there are American citizens left, we're going to stay to get them all out," Biden said.