President Trump and the First Lady are now wheels up after a whirlwind trip the United Kingdom, where they were wined and dined by King Charles himself.

It wasn’t all pomp, of course, with the president meeting Thursday with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer to hammer out a trade deal being called the U.S. – U.K. Tech Prosperity Deal.

Following the signing of the deal, Trump and Starmer held a joint press conference, where they were peppered with questions about trade, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Biden autopen scandal, and the designation of Antifa as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration.

It got a little bit spicy when Starmer was pressed about free speech crackdowns in his nation, then was outright asked if Great Britain was still a Christian country.

President Trump broke some news during the presser by dropping this little nugget: he’s actively working to reclaim Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan from the Taliban.

“We’re trying to get it back,” the president said.

“We’re trying to get it back because they need things from us.”

He added, “We want that base back, but one of the reasons we want the base is, as you know, it’s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons.”

Trump was brutally honest about the Biden-led withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan back in August of 2021, which saw 13 service members killed at Abbey Gate, calling it a “total disaster.”

“We were going to leave Afghanistan,” Trump said at Thursday’s press conference.

“But we were going leave it with strength and dignity. We were going to keep Bagram, the big air base — one of the biggest air bases in the world. We gave it to [the Taliban] for nothing.”

Trump has spoken previously of his desire for the U.S. to reclaim Bagram:

“We were going to get out, but we were going to keep Bagram, not because of Afghanistan but because of China, because it’s exactly one hour away from where China makes its nuclear missiles,” he said in March.

“We were going to keep a small force on Bagram.”

In addition to its proximity to China, there are other reasons the administration would like to have Bagram back under U.S. control.

Including to “gain access to rare earth elements and mining in Afghanistan; establish a counterterrorism node to target ISIS; and possibly reopen a diplomatic facility.”

Reports indicate that the Taliban, for its part, is interested in “normalizing ties” with the United States after it has faced international backlash for its numerous human rights violations.

Representatives for the Trump administration met in March with Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to discuss, according to a Taliban statement, ways to “develop bilateral relations between the two countries, issues related to citizens, and investment opportunities in Afghanistan.”

Trump’s push to reclaim Bagram represents a direct challenge to the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan’s most strategic military asset.

The base’s location makes it invaluable for monitoring and potentially countering Chinese nuclear activities in the region.

Biden’s abandonment of Bagram during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal removed America’s most important strategic foothold in Central Asia.

The Taliban now controls a facility that cost American taxpayers billions to build and maintain over two decades.

Trump’s statement that “they need things from us” suggests he plans to leverage America’s economic and diplomatic power.

The Taliban’s interest in normalizing relations provides Trump with potential bargaining chips to negotiate Bagram’s return.

Afghanistan’s vast rare earth mineral deposits make the country strategically important beyond just military positioning.

Control of Bagram would allow the U.S. to maintain counterterrorism operations against ISIS and other threats in the region.

The base could serve as a launching point for intelligence gathering operations against China’s nuclear program.

Trump’s approach contrasts sharply with Biden’s complete withdrawal strategy that left America with no regional presence.

Reclaiming Bagram would restore American credibility after the humiliating Abbey Gate attack that killed 13 service members.

The Taliban’s desperation for international recognition and economic assistance gives Trump significant leverage.

China’s growing influence in Afghanistan through mining deals makes American presence even more critical.

The strategic base could support broader efforts to contain Chinese expansion across Central Asia.

Trump’s willingness to confront the Taliban shows his commitment to reversing Biden’s foreign policy failures.

The president’s direct approach puts the Taliban on notice that their control of American-built assets isn’t permanent.

Negotiations for Bagram’s return would test whether the Taliban truly wants normalized relations with the United States.

Trump’s strategy demonstrates his understanding that strategic assets shouldn’t be surrendered without compensation.

The reclamation effort represents a broader pattern of Trump reclaiming American strength on the world stage.