Quick Hit: 

White House spokesman John Kirby mistakenly sent an email criticizing veterans to Fox News on the anniversary of 9/11. The email was meant for internal White House staff, but instead, it revealed Kirby’s dismissive comments about veterans’ criticism of the Biden administration.

Key Details:

• John Kirby sent a "reply all" email to Fox News dismissing a group of veterans as a "handful" and of "one stripe."
• The email was a response to Fox’s inquiry regarding veterans’ criticism of the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.
• Kirby followed up with an apology, admitting he didn’t realize Fox News was on the email chain.

Diving Deeper:

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby found himself in hot water after mistakenly sending a dismissive email to Fox News that criticized veterans on the anniversary of 9/11. The email, intended for White House staff, belittled a group of veterans who had been critical of the Biden administration’s chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

The veterans, including Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.), took issue with Kirby’s defense of the administration during a press conference on Monday. Mills and others accused Kirby of providing "cover" for President Biden’s handling of the withdrawal, which many have blamed for the loss of 13 U.S. service members during the August 2021 ISIS-K terror attack at Kabul’s Abbey Gate.

In the mistakenly sent email, Kirby wrote, “Obviously no use in responding. A ‘handful’ of vets indeed and all of one stripe.” His remarks were a response to a Fox News inquiry about the veterans' statements. Realizing his error, Kirby later emailed a Fox reporter, saying, “Clearly, I didn’t realize you were on the chain.”

This email blunder comes at a sensitive time, as Kirby was traveling with President Biden on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The veterans' criticism was focused on what they saw as Kirby’s attempt to deflect responsibility for the Afghanistan withdrawal, despite many of its shortcomings being attributed to Biden’s decisions.

Kirby, who retired from the U.S. Navy as a Rear Admiral, served as Pentagon spokesman during the withdrawal and has consistently blamed former President Donald Trump for negotiating with the Taliban. However, critics argue that the Biden administration's execution of the withdrawal, not the peace deal negotiated by Trump, was the root of the disaster.