Live updates: Biden visits Arlington National Cemetery after announcing troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Biden defended his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, arguing that it was never meant to be a multigenerational war, that the United States had achieved its goals of killing Osama bin Laden and dismantling al-Qaeda, and that is was “time to end the forever war.”

“I believed that our presence in Afghanistan should be focused on the reason we went in the first place, to ensure Afghanistan would not be used as a base from which to attack our homeland again,” Biden said. “We did that. We accomplished that objective.”

“I said along with others, we’d follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell if need be. That’s exactly what we did. And we got him,” Biden added.

Biden noted that he is now the fourth U.S. president to preside over the war in Afghanistan. He said he had spoken to former president George W. Bush, who sent troops to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks nearly 20 years ago, about his decision to bring all U.S. troops home. He didn’t say how Bush felt about it but said the two leaders shared the same gratitude for the sacrifice of the men and women who served.

“He and I have had many disagreements over policy throughout the years,” Biden said of Bush. “We’re absolutely united in our respect and support for the valor, courage and integrity of the women and men in the United States armed forces who served. … We as a nation are forever indebted to them and their families.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden had called Bush and former president Barack Obama to inform them both about his decision. In a statement, Obama, who ordered the military action that killed bin Laden, said: “After nearly two decades of putting our troops in harm’s way, it is time to recognize that we have accomplished all that we can militarily, and that it’s time to bring our remaining troops home. I support President Biden’s bold leadership in building our nation at home and restoring our standing around the world.”

Biden also noted that he is the first president in 40 years to have had a child serving in a war zone, calling his late son, Beau, his “north star” in making this decision.

He spoke directly to critics who believe the United States needs troops on the ground in Afghanistan to maintain its diplomatic relationships in the region.

“I know there are many who will loudly insist that diplomacy cannot succeed without a robust U.S. military presence and stand as leverage,” he said. “We gave that argument a decade — it never proved effective, not when we had 98,000 troops in Afghanistan and not when we’re down to a few thousand. Our diplomacy does not hinge on having boots in harm’s way.”