Top US generals recommended keeping 2,500 troops, but the president said he did not recall this advice.
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Afghanistan: Biden was advised to keep 2,500 troops, say generals
Keeping troops on the ground
Gen McKenzie, who as head of US Central Command oversaw the withdrawal from Afghanistan, said under questioning from Republican senators that he recommended keeping a small force of 2,500 troops in Afghanistan.
This appears to contradict President Joe Biden's assertion to an ABC journalist on 19 August that he did not recall anyone giving him such advice.
Gen Milley said that he agreed with the recommendation, but when asked by Alaska Republican Dan Sullivan whether Mr Biden's comments were "a false statement", he refused to give a direct answer.
Later White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki addressed the issue.
"The president values the candid advice of... the joint chiefs and the military," she said. "That doesn't mean he always agrees with it."
She said that if troops remained in the country after the August deadline the US would now be at war with the Taliban.