Biden stands 'squarely' behind withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, says 'no chance' more years would have 'made any difference' President Joe Biden on Monday said he stands by his decision to pull American troops out of Afghanistan and said the Taliban's swift seizure of Kabul unfolded "more quickly than we anticipated." He said Afghan leaders had assured him that their army would stand up and fight the Taliban, but they did not. He also said he followed through on a withdrawal plan developed during the administration of former President Donald Trump. He spent more time defending his overall plan to withdraw from the country, as well as efforts to close the embassy and secure the airport in order to fly people to safety. Adding, there "was never a good time to withdraw US forces."