Biden Says US ‘On Pace’ to Meet Aug. 31 Afghanistan Withdrawal Deadline

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the U.S. was on track to meet his Aug. 31 deadline to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan, first in an emergency virtual meeting of G-7 leaders and again in a speech from the White House. Meeting this deadline would require “continued coordination with the Taliban, including continued access for evacuees to the airport,” a White House statement said, adding that Biden had “asked the Pentagon and the State Department for contingency plans to adjust the timeline should that become necessary.” Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid demanded that the U.S. stick to the Aug. 31 deadline and said that “the road to Kabul airport is closed for locals and open to foreigners.”

Some coverage in right-rated outlets focused on criticisms of the deadline announcement and framed Biden's decision to stick to the deadline as a capitulation to the Taliban; the New York Post called the White House's request for contingency plans a “stunning reversal.” Some coverage seemed to differ on whether the Taliban would block fleeing Afghans now or after the Aug. 31 deadline.