Four years after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Donald Trump has reignited debate over one of the most symbolic military sites of the 20-year war: Bagram Air Base. This week, Trump suggested the United States should retake the base, framing it as a critical strategic foothold that was abandoned too soon. The Taliban government wasted no time rejecting the idea, calling it a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and an attempt to reverse the outcome of America’s longest war. For the Taliban, Bagram is a symbol of victory. For Trump, it is a symbol of what he sees as failed leadership in Washington.

The proposal highlights deep divisions in how Americans view the withdrawal. Some agree with Trump that abandoning Bagram weakened U.S. influence and gave extremists new opportunities. Others argue that retaking it would mean reigniting a conflict the U.S. worked painfully to end.
Beyond military strategy, the exchange underscores Trump’s political strategy. By raising Bagram now, he draws attention to what remains one of the most controversial chapters of recent U.S. history — and positions himself as the leader who would not have “walked away.” Whether the idea gains traction or remains a rhetorical shot, it reminds Americans that the legacy of the Afghanistan war is far from settled. For Afghans, however, the answer was immediate: Bagram is theirs, and they are not giving it back.