Taliban Endorses Trump For President, Praises President’s Foreign Policies

The Trump campaign won the endorsement of the Taliban on Friday.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told CBS News in a phone interview: “We believe that [President Donald] Trump is going to win the upcoming election because he has proved himself a politician who accomplished all the major promises he had made to American people, although he might have missed some small things, but did accomplish the bigger promises, so it is possible that the U.S. people who experienced deceptions in the past will once again trust Trump for his decisive actions.”

Mujahid then went on to criticize Democratic nominee Joe Biden for “unrealistic slogans,” contrasting him to Trump.

“We think the majority of the American population is tired of instability, economic failures and politicians’ lies and will trust again on Trump because Trump is decisive, could control the situation inside the country,” he said. “Other politicians, including Biden, chant unrealistic slogans. Some other groups, which are smaller in size but are involved in the military business including weapons manufacturing companies’ owners and others who somehow get the benefit of war extension, they might be against Trump and support Biden, but their numbers among voters is low.”

Taliban support for Trump is largely based in their shared goal of getting American troops out of Afghanistan, with the expectation that all U.S. troops will withdraw by spring 2021. The move comes as part of a pact between the US and the Taliban, signed in February, and is contingent on the Taliban breaking from al-Qaeda and not threatening the US or its allies.

Currently, there are fewer than 5,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said that number would be halved by early 2021.

Mujahid praised Trump for his semi-isolationist agenda, in which he tries to put the needs of America first. Other moves by Trump have included withdrawing from international groups and agreements, such as the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization.

“It is the slogan of Trump from the start that they are not cops for the world and don’t want a single flag and anthem for the globe, but their priority is America,” Mujahid said. “When there is no interference by U.S. in other countries, we believe they are facing fewer threats compared to their aggressive position. Trump has a concrete policy in this regard and it is better for America.”

Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told CBS News on Saturday that they “reject” the Taliban’s support.

“The Taliban should know that the president will always protect American interests by any means necessary,” he said.