‘The most disrespectful thing I’ve ever seen’: Fathers of slain soldiers slam Biden on Hannity

Hannity began the segment Monday night by stating, "Tonight, we're continuing to remember the American heroes lost in last week's terror attack at Karzai International Airport in Kabul. 13, brave men and women from all across the country, as young as 20 years old, made the ultimate sacrifice, serving their country with honor, bravery, distinction and dignity. Remember we have an all volunteer military, these brave souls they took on this challenge.

"These were America's finest, our national treasure. They rose to the occasion, met the moment, represented the best, the very best our country has to offer. And quite frankly, they deserve so much better than this and better than to have of Joe Biden look down and check his watch during the dignified transfer of remains over the week."

Hannity introduced the two Gold Star fathers; Mark Schmitz, father of Lance Corporal, Jared Schmitz and Darrin Hoover, the father of Staff Sergeant Darrin 'Taylor' Hoven Jr.

Hannity asked Schmitz, "Your son was sent back to Afghanistan to assist with the evacuation efforts. You said 'It's something he (Jared) always wanted to do. I never have seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be.' He went back just for this mission. Explain."

Schmitz replied, "Yes, he did. First I just wanted to say that the Jared has exemplified, just so much that any man could ever strive for and made me so proud to watch him undertake this... endeavor and going into the Marine Corps. He completed his bootcamp, went to Jordan, was excited about that, and he was constantly looking to do more and was given that opportunity."

Hannity responded, "First I want to say to both of you, if I may, as a parent... I... nobody can understand the loss that both of you have gone through. I can't imagine the pain that both of you are living through, and I'm very sorry about that."

He then asked Schmitz, "Mark, you met with Biden over the weekend. How did that go?" Schmitz answered, "Well, initially I wasn't going to meet with him. But then I felt I owed it to my son to at least have some words with him (Biden) about how I felt and... it didn't go well. He talked a bit more about his own son than he did my son and I...that didn't sit well with me."

Hannity replied, "Your son was a hero. I can't imagine the pain, I really can't," before asking Hoover, "Darrin, you said about your son, he had the biggest heart in the world and no parent, and I as a parent, I think every parent watching right now understands this, no parent should have to bury their sons or daughter. It's not supposed to work that way. He was scheduled to return home on September the 15th and retire and marry his fiancé Nicole, I can't imagine how you're feeling today."

Hoover said while holding back tears, "...it's the absolute worst feeling in the world... having them be away for so long and doing the job that they all love. There's no doubt about it. Being a Marine, to these guys is everything. And having this happen…to these heroes, every one of them is a hero, there is no doubt, every last one of them... they died with their brothers and their sisters right next to them doing exactly what they all wanted to do. And that is defending this country."

Hannity called the fallen soldiers, "America's national treasure." He then asked Hoover about his decision not to meet with Biden and added referencing the now infamous video clip of Biden checking his watch after each casket was unloaded from the plane, "I'd like to know when I saw Biden look at his watch, I was literally was like, you gotta be kidding me because all of this to me was preventable because we saw them (The Taliban) on the march... we had April, May, June, July to extradite everybody and our equipment. We didn't do it. There's no excuse to me for this. Why did you choose not to meet with the President?"

A very emotional Hoover replied, "For exactly the reasons you just gave. We said, 'absolutely not.' We didn't want to, we didn't want to deal with him. We didn't want to, we didn't want him anywhere near us. We, as a family decided that was the way it was gonna be."

Hoover added, "In reference to the checking of his watch, that didn't happen just once that happened on every single one (casket) that came out of that airplane. It happened on every single one of them. They would release the salute and he looked down at his watch on every last one, all 13, he looked down at his watch. As a father, you know, seeing that and the disrespect and hearing from his (Darrin's) former leaders, one of his Master Sergeants said exactly what you just said, that 'this was avoidable,' that they left them over there. They had them over there and let them down. And that, that we can't have that. We... it can't happen ever again."

Hannity added, "We also abandoned Americans. Americans now are on their own. We left them behind." He then asked Schmitz, "Mark. You want to comment on the watch incident? Did you notice the same thing?"

Schmitz, "Yes, I did. I actually leaned into my son's mother's ear and I said, 'I swear to God if he checks his watch one more time.' And that was only probably four times in... I couldn't...I couldn't look at him anymore after that. Just considering, especially at the time and why we were there, it was... I found to be the most disrespectful thing I've ever seen."

Hannity concluded the segment by saying, "I know there are no words that any commentator or host could express that's going to take your pain away. But I can tell you, this audience shares in your anger and shares in a deep appreciation and thankfulness and sadness at an unnecessary loss of life... and we'll be praying for all of you, your families, these incredible young men that you raised that made this country, the greatest country on earth. They make the country great. There's some leaders that don't make the country great. They did. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both."

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