[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 165 (Thursday, August 28, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 42119-42120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16599]
[[Page 42117]]
Vol. 90
Thursday,
No. 165
August 28, 2025
Part III
The President
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Proclamation 10965--Fourth Anniversary of the Attack at Abbey Gate,
2025
Executive Order 14339--Additional Measures To Address the Crime
Emergency in the District of Columbia
Executive Order 14340--Measures To End Cashless Bail and Enforce the
Law in the District of Columbia
Executive Order 14341--Prosecuting Burning of the American Flag
Executive Order 14342--Taking Steps To End Cashless Bail To Protect
Americans
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 90 , No. 165 / Thursday, August 28, 2025 /
Presidential Documents
___________________________________________________________________
Title 3--
The President
[[Page 42119]]
Proclamation 10965 of August 25, 2025
Fourth Anniversary of the Attack at Abbey Gate,
2025
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On one of the darkest days in our Nation's history, 4
years ago, the gates of hell sprung open when an evil
Jihadi terrorist carried out a suicide bombing in
Kabul, Afghanistan--killing 13 heroes of our United
States Armed Forces and shattering the hearts of
Americans and our allies. As our Nation remembers this
atrocious attack, we honor the memory of every brave
warrior who made the ultimate sacrifice for our
country. We join in grief with the families who
senselessly lost a loved one, and we renew our solemn
pledge to our 13 fallen patriots--we will never forget
you; we will never forsake you; and your memory will
live on forever.
On July 2, 2021, as an empowered Taliban was in the
midst of waging a civil war in Afghanistan, President
Joe Biden began a disastrous withdrawal from Bagram
Airfield in the middle of the night without alerting
Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. As a
direct result of the Biden Administration's reckless
political stunt designed to claim victory on the 20th
anniversary of September 11, 2001, our men and women in
uniform were left without a defensible base of
operations, allowing the Taliban to free thousands of
bloodthirsty terrorists and criminals held captive at
Bagram prison.
At exactly 5:36pm on August 26, 2021, a barbaric ISIS-K
terrorist--one of the prisoners set free by the Taliban
less than two months earlier--detonated a suicide bomb
at a civilian gate of Hamid Karzai International
Airport in Kabul, the main entry point for an
evacuation operation. As a result, 13 brave American
service members were killed, 45 were wounded, and more
than 160 civilians were injured, resulting in the
single deadliest day for United States forces in a
decade.
In what will be remembered as one of the most shameful
and heartbreaking moments in our Nation's collective
memory, Joe Biden checked his watch--and time stood
still--as a Sailor, Soldier, and 11 Marines returned
home in flag-draped coffins, solemnly escorted by their
brothers and sisters in arms. We will never forget the
names of the 13 brave souls who shed their blood for
our Nation: Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover, USMC;
Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo, USMC; Sergeant
Nicole L. Gee, USMC; Corporal Hunter Lopez, USMC;
Corporal Daegan W. Page, USMC; Corporal Humberto A.
Sanchez, USMC; Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza, USMC;
Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz, USMC; Lance Corporal
Rylee J. McCollum, USMC; Lance Corporal Dylan R.
Merola, USMC; Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui, USMC;
Petty Officer Third Class Maxton W. Soviak, USN; and
Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss, USA.
As Commander in Chief, I will never allow our military
service members to be so betrayed, our friends to be so
abandoned, and our credibility to be so destroyed.
To those who lost a son, daughter, brother, sister,
husband, wife, or family member at Abbey Gate in 2021--
we offer you our enduring love and our unwavering
devotion. To those who horrifically suffered life-
altering wounds--we extend our unending support and
eternal gratitude for your unsung sacrifices. To those
who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and
[[Page 42120]]
beyond--you should be tremendously proud of your
service to our Nation and your devotion to preserving
our freedoms.
The events of that day led to an unimaginable loss of
human life and the single most embarrassing display of
American foreign policy in the history of our country.
In the wake of the attack, countless Americans and our
Afghan allies were abandoned behind Taliban lines, 10
innocent civilians--including children--were killed in
a feckless counterstrike ordered by President Biden,
$85 billion worth of United States military equipment
was surrendered to the enemy, and 20 years of American
blood and treasure were utterly squandered. The
weakness and incompetence that led to Abbey Gate lived
on in the American memory as the moment our credibility
was all but lost--until the clock struck noon on
January 20, 2025.
On day one, my Administration sought to bring justice
to the families of the Abbey Gate 13 by aggressively
pursuing a foreign policy rooted in the commonsense
principle of peace through strength. Just 43 days into
my second term, on the night of March 4, 2025, during
my Joint Address to the Congress, I announced that we
apprehended the ISIS Jihadi responsible for the
atrocity at the Kabul airport--who was at that moment
being brought to the United States to face the swift
sword of American justice. When America is strong, the
world is safe, fewer conflicts erupt on the field of
battle, and the lives of our men and women in uniform
are cherished and protected.
As our Nation solemnly marks 4 years since the attack
at Abbey Gate, we honor the memory of the 13 brave
souls and every military service member to ever die in
the line of duty--and we renew our resolve to protect
American lives, defend American interests, and uphold
American sovereignty.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2025, as a
day in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the
attack at Abbey Gate. I encourage all Americans to
remember the heroism of the brave men and women who
made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and the
Gold Star Families who carry on their proud legacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2025-16599
Filed 8-27-25; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P