Trump Declares August 26 A Day To Remember 13 Americans Lost In Abbey Gate Attack

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that August 26 would be set aside to commemorate the American service members who were killed or wounded in the terror attack at Abbey Gate during former President Joe Biden’s disastrous troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Surrounded by Gold Star families who’d lost a loved one in the attack, Trump issued a proclamation declaring August 26, 2025, as a day to remember both their heroic service to their country and his administration’s promise to never “allow our military service members to be so betrayed, our friends to be so abandoned, and our credibility to be so destroyed.”

President Trump officially proclaims August 26, 2025, as a day in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate.

Here is the Proclamation’s text:

On one of the darkest days in our Nation’s history, 4 years ago, the gates of hell sprung open when an evil… pic.twitter.com/4qVzUiKBAW

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2025

The proclamation read, in part:

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.

…

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.

“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,” Trump’s proclamation concluded. “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.”

President Trump officially proclaims August 26, 2025, as a day in commemoration of the 4th anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate.

Here is the Proclamation’s text:

On one of the darkest days in our Nation’s history, 4 years ago, the gates of hell sprung open when an evil… pic.twitter.com/4qVzUiKBAW

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2025

.@POTUS signs the proclamation commemorating the 4th anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate https://t.co/lvHXqjKHgg pic.twitter.com/AaLpBgYspz

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined Trump in the Oval Office to repeat his promise to get to the bottom of what happened in Afghanistan in the ays leading up to the terror attack.

.@SecDef joins @POTUS and Gold Star families in the Oval Office: “On behalf of this beautiful group… America deserves answers as far as what happened in Afghanistan. The military needs to answer for what happened in Afghanistan.” pic.twitter.com/pDS1SOjK35

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 25, 2025