Former Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, fact-checked Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's comments on Saturday that former President Donald Trump does not negotiate with terrorists.
At a Trump campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on Saturday, Burgum criticized the state of America's national security under the Biden administration.
"Joe Biden's weakness is actually causing wars, just look at the Middle East. Israel, barbarically attacked by the terrorist group Hamas. And who funds Hamas? Iran. President Donald Trump left Iran on its knees financially. Joe Biden appeased Iran, lifted the oil sanctions and has given them hundreds of billions of dollars that they're using to fight in wars against our allies," Burgum told the crowd. "There's a long-standing American principal, and President Donald Trump would never do this—we don't negotiate with terrorists."
Cheney, who served Wyoming's at-large district from 2017-2023, responded to a clip of Burgum's speech and wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday evening, "Actually, @GovDougBurgum, Trump didn't just negotiate with terrorists, he invited the Taliban to Camp David on the anniversary of 9/11 and had his Secretary of State sign a surrender agreement with them."
When reached for comment by Newsweek via email on Sunday morning, Biden's campaign declined to comment.
Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung, meanwhile, told Newsweek via email on Sunday: "Liz Cheney and her family have sought more war and more destruction and more misery, she should sit this one out."
Newsweek has also reached out to Cheney's staff via email and Burgum's office via online form for comment.
Cheney, the daughter of Dick Cheney who was vice president under then-President George W. Bush when the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred, emerged as a fierce Trump critic following the 2020 presidential election. She has been outspoken about Trump's alleged role in the U.S. Capitol riot that took place on January 6, 2021, arguing that he incited a violent mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., in a last-ditch effort to remain in power following Biden's election victory.
Around the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in 2019, Trump invited Taliban leaders to Camp David, however the meeting never happened. Trump took credit for inviting and then uninviting the militant leaders, telling a reporter at the time, "No. Actually, in terms of advisers, I took my own advice. I liked the idea of meeting ... We had a meeting scheduled. It was my idea, and it was my idea to terminate it. I didn't even—I didn't discuss it with anybody else."
A year later, in February 2020, the U.S. signed a peace deal with the Taliban, known as the Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan, or the Doha Accord. The goal of the deal was to bring an end to the decades-long war in Afghanistan and included the withdrawal of U.S. and other foreign forces in the Middle Eastern country, a pledge from the Taliban that Afghanistan will not be breed terrorists that threaten the security of the U.S. and its allies, and talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government.
The last of the troops in Afghanistan left in the summer of 2021, but Biden faced bipartisan criticism for his haphazard withdrawal plan. Meanwhile, the Doha Accord did not create peace in Afghanistan, with the country now under the complete control of the Taliban.
Burgum's Claims Explained
In February 2021, the Biden administration rescinded Trump's restoration of United Nations (U.N.) sanctions on Iran, which included sanctions on the import and transport of Iranian oil.
In 2015, Iran, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, and the European Union (EU) signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, in which Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program and allow for more extensive international inspections in exchange for billions of dollars' worth of lifted sanctions. Trump pulled out of the agreement in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration is currently working alongside Egypt and Qatar on a temporary ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel to free the remaining hostages in Gaza and provide more humanitarian aid amid the conflict in the Middle East.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack against Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. In the months that followed, Israel's offensive has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the Associated Press reported, citing local health officials.
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson told Newsweek last month that there are 134 hostages—among them 11 foreign nationals—still being held hostage, with 123 released.
Update 5/12/24, 12:24 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from Cheung.
Correction 5/15/24, 12:15 p.m. ET: This article was updated to clarify Afghanistan's regional location.