Trump Warns Taliban Over Refusal to Hand Over Bagram Airbase

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the Taliban after the group rejected Washington’s demand to hand over control of Afghanistan’s Bagram Airbase.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: «If Afghanistan does not return the Bagram Airbase to those who built it — the United States of America — there will be serious consequences!»

The remarks follow Trump’s earlier statement in mid-September, when he announced Washington’s intention to reclaim the facility, which once hosted American forces. He argued that the base is strategically important, given its proximity to sites in China allegedly linked to nuclear weapons production.

However, Taliban representatives quickly dismissed the request, stressing that Kabul would not permit any U.S. presence on Afghan soil. A spokesperson for the movement said the base would remain under Afghan control.

Current Afghan authorities also sought to downplay Trump’s comments, describing his statements regarding Bagram as «emotional.»