The Gold Star parents of fallen Staff Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover Jr., who was killed in the botched 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, have spoken out against President Biden and in favor of former President Trump. Darin Hoover Sr. and Kelly Barnett blamed the incumbent administration for their son’s death and gave interviews to Fox News stating their beliefs.
In the aftermath of the withdrawal, the Biden administration provided the parents with “incomplete” and flawed reports, according to Hoover Sr. and Barnett. Sgt. Hoover was one of 13 servicemembers killed in a suicide bombing attributed to the ISIS-Khorosan group at Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate. The communication between the government and the parents was reportedly abysmal, with the reports not matching the information from people on the ground in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, Barnett accused Biden, Gen. Mark Milley, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of being “incompetent cowards; evil” and treating her family with disrespect. She recounted how her son had felt that the “upper command” wasn’t showing the proper care for the troops and described the situation in Kabul as “complete chaos.” Hoover Sr. expressed his anger at Biden for repeatedly checking his watch during his son’s dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base and accused him of being a coward who was responsible for his son’s murder.
Barnett believes that Biden’s statement of “extraordinary success” after the withdrawal is enough reason for him to resign the presidency and allow Trump back into the White House. She described Trump as an honest man who cares about the country and all Americans. Hoover Sr. expressed his support for Trump’s candidacy and believed that he is the clear winner who can bring the country back to where it should be.
This is not the first time that Gold Star families have criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The President has faced backlash from military families, veterans, and active duty servicemembers for his decision to withdraw from the country and his handling of the evacuation process. However, the comments from Hoover Sr. and Barnett highlight the emotional toll the withdrawal has taken on families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan.
