White House’s John Kirby Trashes Veterans on 9/11 in Email Accidentally Sent to Fox News
SUMMARY
John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, mistakenly sent an email criticizing a group of veterans to Fox News on the anniversary of 9/11. The veterans had criticized Kirby for downplaying the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. In his email, Kirby dismissed the veterans as a “handful” with "one stripe," implying they were not representative of the broader veteran community. The email was intended for internal White House staff but was accidentally sent to Fox News. Kirby later followed up with a reporter, acknowledging the error, stating, "Clearly, I didn’t realize you were on the chain." The incident occurred while Kirby was traveling with President Biden, and it drew criticism, particularly given its timing on the 9/11 anniversary. This situation came amid broader critiques of the administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, with Kirby frequently defending the White House against Republican and veteran criticism.
