On Monday’s "CNN News Central," Paula Knauss Selph, the mother of Staff Sgt. Ryan Christian Knauss—who was killed in the Kabul airport bombing in 2021—commented on the incident. She agreed with 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s assertion that the bombing should not have occurred. Selph addressed 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, stating, “You were part of the entire administration during this period; you bear the same accountability as President Biden. You were right there making these decisions.”
Selph mentioned, “[W]hat Trump conveyed to me was his deep regret that this tragedy occurred, emphasizing that it should never have happened. He’s right; it should never have happened.”
She further criticized the current administration, saying, “It would be beneficial if the administration began by acknowledging their mistakes—admitting that they made several errors and did not make the best decisions. Instead, this administration has attempted to sweep the issue under the rug, which is unacceptable given that the world watched this unfold live on television. Denying what everyone witnessed and knows is not an option.”
Host Brianna Keilar then asked, “Vice President Harris is now running to be commander-in-chief. Do you have a message for her?”
Knauss Selph responded, “You were part of the entire administration during this period and share the same accountability as President Biden. You were right there making these decisions alongside him. If you claim you weren’t involved, it raises concerns about what kind of leader you would be in the future if you didn’t have a say in such critical decisions.”