Digital Dunkirk organizer Alex Plitsas criticized comedian Trevor Noah after the latter used his platform at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner to crack a joke about the Biden Administration’s disastrous exit from Afghanistan.
“Please be careful leaving tonight,” Noah said. “We all know this administration doesn’t handle evacuations well.”
Trevor Noah: "Please be careful leaving tonight. We all know this administration doesn't handle evacuations well." #WHCD pic.twitter.com/6QLR5JlmH6
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) May 1, 2022
“I finally understand the ‘too soon’ response to a joke,” Plitsas replied. “There are a lot of people who were left behind and are suffering after we made a promise to them as a nation. We are not done.”
I finally understand the “too soon” response to a joke. There are a lot of people who were left behind and are suffering after we made a promise to them as a nation. We are not done. https://t.co/8FwvDONKlL
— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) May 1, 2022
Plitsas, an Army veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, was instrumental in a massive civilian-led rescue operation known as “Digital Dunkirk” — so named because of its similarities to the massive civilian rescue operation that took place at Dunkirk between May 26 and June 4 of 1940. Plitsas has worked tirelessly with other civilians and intelligence operators to aid American citizens and Afghan allies in their escape from the Taliban after President Joe Biden ordered all American troops to leave Afghanistan — and that work is still ongoing.
Plitsas was not alone in his criticism of the joke, however. Congressman Peter Meijer (R-MI) was not amused either.
“Ha ha that’s a great joke [at the expense of the tens of thousands of Afghan allies we left behind to rot that @WHCOS wants to forget bc it’s the reason why Biden’s favs/unfavs are absolutely dismal but] lolol great zinger much laughs,” Meijer tweeted in response.
“For the record Afghanistan is still going on, and not just in the context of throwaway nerd prom jokes about abandoning people who risked their lives for the US,” he added.
For the record Afghanistan is still going on, and not just in the context of throwaway nerd prom jokes about abandoning people who risked their lives for the US pic.twitter.com/CYb17F3caJ
— Rep. Peter Meijer (@RepMeijer) May 1, 2022
“Leaving Americans to die on their own in Afghanistan is just a joke to those who think they’re better than you,” another commented.
GOP rapid response director Tommy Pigott added, “13 people died trying to save people from his mistakes.”
Texas Congressional candidate Jenny Garcia Sharon made it clear that she was not impressed either. “I find nothing humorous about the disastrous evacuation that cost the lives of 13 American soldiers …what a disgusting display of callousness. #WHCD,” she said.
“Wow. How completely inconsiderate and disgusting of #TrevorNoah, to joke about #Biden’s horrible evacuation from Afghanistan which resulted in the deaths of 13 members of our military. #WHCD,” another added.
Plitsas, for his part, has carried on with the mission and continues to assist Afghan allies as they slowly make their way out of Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to the United States or other safe countries for refuge.
Four Afghan children who we helped to rescue in Kabul were reunited with their loving mother in New York. She’s experienced health issues and is unable to work. They need help!
I'm raising money for Home & Food for Afghan Refugee Children.👇🏼
Donate: https://t.co/4LVrxLsZPM
— Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 (@alexplitsas) April 28, 2022