After falsely claiming that there were no Americans currently stranded in Afghanistan, Jen Psaki admitted a bit of truth:
Some Americans are likely to be left behind once the evacuation is over.
The admission came after a reporter asked Psaki what would happen to those Americans still in Afghanistan after the August 31 deadline.
Psaki responed:
“Our commitment continues to be to U.S. citizens: If they want to leave, we will help get them out.”
However, when pressed further, Psaki quietly admitted that she expects some Americans to be left behind:
“Again, we expect there could be some, but I don’t — I’m not going to get into it further.”
Despite this admission, Psaki still referred to the situation in Afghanistan as a “sucess” when questioned by reporters.
Psaki said:
“I would say that this is now on track to be the largest airlift in U.S. history,”
“And that is bringing American citizens out. It is bringing our Afghan partners out. It is bringing allies out. So, no, I would not say that is anything but a success.”
The Daily Wire has more on what Psaki calls a "success" in Afghanistan:
“I would say that this is now on track to be the largest airlift in U.S. history,” Psaki said. “And that is bringing American citizens out. It is bringing our Afghan partners out. It is bringing allies out. So, no, I would not say that is anything but a success.”
Later during the press conference, Psaki appeared to suggest that some Americans could be left behind:
REPOTER: Okay. Say after the withdrawal is done, it’s declared, it’s done, everyone’s out, if one U.S. citizen was suddenly discovered saying, “Hey, I really want to get out and I’m stuck,” who knows where, somewhere in Afghanistan or in Kabul, he’s got any problem, would this trigger a diplomatic, military, all hands on deck type thing to get to that person out, whatever the date?
PSAKI: Our commitment continues to be to U.S. citizens. If they want to leave, we will help get them out.
REPORTER: No matter of what the date?
PSAKI: Again, we expect there could be some, but I’m not going to get into it further. Go ahead.
Psaki admits some American citizens could be left behind
Just moments earlier, Peter Doocy questioned Psaki for her previous statement that Americans weren't "stranded in Afghanistan."
Psaki then claimed that the withdrawal from Afghanistan has been nothing less than a success:
The Washington Examiner has more on Psaki's original statement that Americans weren't stranded in Afghanistan, despite audio evidence to the contrary:
A mother from the United States who is trapped in Afghanistan amid the U.S. troop withdrawal made an emotional plea for President Joe Biden to help her return to her children as the situation around Kabul becomes increasingly violent.
The woman, who has two children in the U.S. and went by the pseudonym of "Fatima" for her safety, thanked Republican Rep. Carol Miller and her team for being "my only strength" and communicating with her to find a solution to return her to the U.S.
"We are in danger. We are in danger, Mr. President. Please help us," the woman said during a Tuesday morning appearance on Fox & Friends First, adding, "Yes, we are stranded."
The plea comes just one day after White House press secretary Jen Psaki dismissed the notion that U.S. citizens who have yet to be evacuated from Afghanistan are stranded in the country.
"First of all, I think it's irresponsible to say Americans are stranded. They are not. We are committed to bringing Americans who want to come home, home," Psaki said on Monday.
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