Rubio: State Department's Evacuation Response a 'Disgrace'

Tension between the United States and Afghanistan continues to increase as Americans remain in Afghanistan amidst the political turmoil. CBN News reported that a Texas mother and her three children faced a 300-mile excursion through 20 checkpoints before reaching safety. Moreover, it appears that safely evacuating Americans has been exacerbated due to the Taliban blocking 6 planes from leaving the country. In response, Florida Republicans are criticizing both the Biden Administration and the State Department, calling their response a “disgrace” as the conflict surrounding Afghanistan continues to have lasting effects.

The Texas mother is reported to have received help from a private group, and CBN News reports that they “survived the dangerous journey out of Afghanistan… by paying as much as $500 to $4,000 per person at every terrorist checkpoint.” While they made it to safety through grueling circumstances, “other Americans remain stranded, and six planes are still being blocked from evacuating other U.S. citizens and allies.”

A group of military veterans that are funded by private donations helped the family escape, and they’ve expressed that the State Department did not provide much help.

Aside from criticizing the Biden Administration’s withdrawal from the country, Republicans in the Sunshine State and across the country have subsequently called for an investigation into the Administration’s handling of the situation. Moreover, Florida Rep. Michael Waltz (R) introduced a resolution condemning the President over the Administration’s response.

Commenting on the challenges the Texas family faced to leave the country, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) took to Twitter to express that “Joe Biden and his State Department continue to disgrace themselves by not only leaving Americans stranded in Afghanistan but now blocking at least 6 planes from evacuating many of them.”

Echoing in his remarks, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) slammed the Biden Administration, calling it “inexcusable & infuriating.” He added that “first, Biden stranded Americans in Afghanistan and now his administration won’t do the bare minimum required to get them home.”