‘Screwed,’ ‘Lied To’: State Dept. Avoids Questions About Trapped Passport Holders, Congressional Offices Flooded With Calls From Abandoned Americans

State Department spokesman Ned Price desperately tried to steer away from questions about Americans, American passport holders, and Afghan allies, still trapped in Afghanistan, even as an Associated Press reporter pressed him on claims that Afghan allies, particularly, feel “screwed” and “lied to” after being promised help.

AP reporter Matt Lee confronted Price over the number of people the administration says are still in Afghanistan, asking Prince whether the “100-200” number used by Biden officials represents just American passport holders and whether there are efforts being made to extract legal permanent residents (LPRs) and those with Special Immigration Visas (SIVs). Price refused to answer directly.

“You must have some estimate of LPRs who are still there who want to get out, and if you don’t, why not?” Lee asked.

“Over the past couple days – and, in fact, overnight – we have been in touch with everyone in that remaining 100 to 200, and we do have a little bit more fidelity on that group that we’ve been able to garner over the past couple days,” Price answered, avoiding the issue of LPRs and SIVs. “We have said that the number is likely closer to 100. Everything we have seen over the course of the past 48 to 72 hours indicates that is, in fact, the case. The number is likely closer to 100, perhaps considerably closer to 100.”