Taliban takeover of Afghanistan isn't 'inevitable,' Biden says after forceful defense of US exit

President Joe Biden rejected the notion Thursday that a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is inevitable once a complete U.S. military withdrawal is complete this summer. Still, the commander in chief, during a forceful explanation of his pullout plan, conceded it is "highly unlikely" the Afghan government retains "unified" control of its country.

Biden answered questions from reporters following remarks outlining the new Aug. 31 withdrawal completion target and said while he doesn't "trust" the Taliban, he is confident the Afghan government and U.S.-trained security force there will be able to overcome the worse-equipped, smaller Taliban forces. Notably, however, the much larger and much better trained and equipped American and NATO force that has been there since months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks failed to do so in two decades of fighting.