The last U.S. troop left Afghanistan this week as President Joe Biden promised. It wasn’t long before the Taliban took a victory lap.

A Taliban official claimed the country was “finally free” now that U.S. forces have left, The Hill reported. The Taliban seems to consider Biden’s withdrawal a surrender with Afghanistan now under the control of the oppressive regime.

“Afghanistan is finally free,” Taliban official Hekmatuhha Wasiq told the Associated Press. “The military and civilian side [of the airport] are with us and in control. Hopefully, we will be announcing our Cabinet. Everything is peaceful. Everything is safe,” he said.

After the last U.S. service member boarded the last military plane headed for home, many across the nation celebrated. In the city of Khost, people held a mock funeral in the streets, draping wooden caskets in American, British, and French flags, according to Reuters.

Taliban supporters hold mock U.S. funeral as troops leave Afghanistan https://t.co/TDKIfFTsXb pic.twitter.com/Xv82CFYI9H

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 31, 2021

The Taliban had wasted no time filling the void left by the departing soldiers. The terrorist organization seized much of Afghanistan that the U.S. spent the last two decades securing and the Taliban considered it a win..

“August 31 is our formal Freedom Day. On this day, American occupying forces and NATO forces fled the country,” Qari Saeed Khosti, another Taliban official, told the local media.

Many on social media were incensed that so much equipment and weaponry was left behind when Biden withdrew troops, though Pentagon press secretary John Kirby insisted much of what was left behind was destroyed or inoperable. Still, the photos of Taliban personnel wearing or holding U.S. military gear were disturbing.

The American exit from Afghanistan will have many consequences, not the least of which is the renewed fervor and power held by the Taliban. Biden orchestrated this entire debacle that has also been a great humiliation for America as pullout becomes a sign of defeat.