Trump's Afghanistan Legacy: Counting The Human Cost

During Donald Trump's presidency, which lasted from January 2017 to January 2021, there were 45 combat deaths among US service members in Afghanistan, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System. There were also 18 non-hostile deaths during Trump's presidency, bringing the total number of US military deaths in Afghanistan under Trump to 63. It is important to note that the number of US military deaths in Afghanistan includes not only those killed in combat but also those who died in non-hostile incidents or as a result of psychological problems developed during their service.

There were 45 combat deaths of US service members in Afghanistan under Trump

During his presidency, Donald Trump made the claim that there were no U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan for an 18-month period. However, this statement is false. There were 45 combat deaths of US service members in Afghanistan under Trump, as well as 18 "non-hostile" deaths.

Trump's claim that "we didn't lose one American soldier" during an 18-month period is misleading. While there was a period of 18 months without combat deaths, this timeframe includes months under the Biden administration. From early February 2020 to August 2021, there were no combat deaths reported. However, this period spills over into the tenure of the next president, Joe Biden.

Looking at Trump's presidency, which ran from January 20, 2017, to January 20, 2021, there were 45 combat deaths among US service members in Afghanistan. This figure is supported by data from the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

It is important to note that the US was involved in Afghanistan for the entirety of Trump's term in office. This has not been the case under Biden, who initiated a controversial withdrawal of troops in August 2021.

The Afghanistan War, also known as Operation Enduring Freedom, began in October 2001 and resulted in numerous casualties over the years. The conflict was initiated in response to the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, marking the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism.

There were 18 non-hostile deaths of US service members in Afghanistan under Trump

During Donald Trump's presidency, there were 18 non-hostile deaths of US service members in Afghanistan. Trump's presidency ran from January 2017 to January 2021.

Trump has made misleading claims about the number of US casualties in Afghanistan during his presidency. In May 2022, he stated that there was a period of 18 months during his presidency when "we didn't lose one American soldier". However, this claim has been proven false by the Defense Casualty Analysis System, which records US military casualties in Afghanistan from 2015.

There were no combat deaths of US service members in Afghanistan from February 2020 to August 2021, a period of 18 months that includes months under the Biden administration. However, there were several non-hostile deaths during this time frame, specifically in 2020.

From February 12 to July 12, 2020, there were four non-hostile deaths recorded in Afghanistan:

• Branden Kimball, 21, died on February 12 from a "non-combat-related incident."
• Trevarius Bowman, 25, died on May 19 from a "non-combat-related incident."
• Vincent Ibarria, 21, died on July 3 as the result of a vehicle rollover accident.
• Joseph Allbaugh, 24, died on July 12 from a "non-combat-related incident."

Overall, there were 45 combat deaths and 18 non-hostile deaths of US service members in Afghanistan during the Trump administration, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

Trump misleadingly claimed there were no casualties in Afghanistan for 18 months during his presidency

Former US President Donald Trump claimed that no US soldiers died in Afghanistan during an 18-month period under his presidency. However, this claim has been proven false by various sources, including the Defense Casualty Analysis System database, which records US military casualties in Afghanistan from 2015.

Trump's statement was made during a rally in Austin, Texas, in May 2022, where he asserted: "We didn't lose one American soldier. Not one... In 18 months in Afghanistan, we lost nobody." Trump's comments came in the wake of a tragic shooting in Buffalo, New York, where a white gunman killed 10 Black people.

The specific 18-month period Trump referred to remains unclear. However, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System, there were no combat or "hostile" deaths in Afghanistan from early February 2020 to August 2021. This period includes months under both the Trump and Biden administrations.

If the last 18 months of Trump's presidency are considered, from July 2019 to January 2021, there were 12 "hostile" deaths recorded in Afghanistan. Additionally, during Trump's entire presidency, from January 2017 to January 2021, there were 45 combat deaths and 18 "non-hostile" deaths among US service members in Afghanistan.

Trump's misleading claim about the absence of casualties in Afghanistan during his presidency has been widely debunked by various news organizations and fact-checking sources. The true number of casualties during Trump's presidency highlights a different story and underscores the human toll of the conflict in Afghanistan.

The US was involved in Afghanistan for the entirety of Trump's time in office

The US was involved in the War in Afghanistan for the entirety of Trump's time in office, from January 2017 to January 2021. During this period, there were 45 combat deaths among US service members reported in Afghanistan, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System. There were also 18 "non-hostile" deaths reported during Trump's presidency.

Trump has claimed that there was an 18-month period during his presidency when no US soldiers died in Afghanistan. However, this claim has been proven false. While there were no combat deaths reported between February 2020 and August 2021, this period includes months under the Biden administration.

During the last 18 months of Trump's presidency, from July 2019 to December 2020, there were 12 combat deaths reported. Additionally, there were several "non-hostile" deaths among US service members in Afghanistan during this time frame.

In total, there were 65 American service member deaths in combat while serving under Trump, with fatalities every year of his presidency. The War in Afghanistan lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, and during this conflict, there were a total of 2,459 United States military deaths, with 1,922 of these resulting from hostile action.

The number of US military deaths in the War in Afghanistan was 2,459

The War in Afghanistan, which lasted from October 2001 to August 2021, claimed the lives of 2,459 US military personnel. This figure includes deaths that occurred in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Cuba in support of OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) operations.

Of the 2,459 US military deaths, 1,922 were a direct result of hostile action, and 534 were non-hostile deaths. Three deaths are still pending classification. In addition to the human cost of the war, it is important to recognize that many veterans have struggled with psychological issues and even suicide as a result of their service.

The United States Department of Defense lists 2,459 servicemembers as having died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. The iCasualties.org website lists a similar number, reporting 2,455 servicemembers and 10 CIA operatives as having died in these operations, for a total of 2,406 deaths of servicemen and women in support of operations in Afghanistan.

During the Trump administration, from 2017 to 2021, there were 45 combat deaths and 18 non-hostile deaths among US service members in Afghanistan, according to the Defense Casualty Analysis System. However, it is important to note that the US was involved in Afghanistan throughout Trump's presidency, whereas the US withdrew from Afghanistan during Biden's term in August 2021.

The War in Afghanistan resulted in a devastating loss of life, with 2,459 US military deaths, thousands of wounded soldiers, and countless others impacted by the psychological toll of the conflict.

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