Brian Kemp vowed to welcome Afghan refugees in Georgia — and MAGA Republicans are losing it

With the Taliban now in control in Afghanistan, conservative Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is saying that Afghan refugees are welcome in the Peach State — and MAGA Republicans, journalist Samantha Lock reports in Newsweek, are slamming him for it.

Kemp, in an official statement on August 17, said, "Joe Biden's failure to protect American citizens and our allies in Afghanistan is a stain on our nation. His administration's lack of preparation and disastrous evacuation is now putting countless lives in serious danger from the Taliban. It is vitally important to keep those who partnered with American armed forces over the last 20 years safe from harm."

Biden was essentially following the Donald Trump/Mike Pompeo plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan — although he did so more slowly than what Trump and Pompeo had in mind. Trump, in fact, said, in April, that Biden was taking too long to remove U.S. forces. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming has slammed the Trump/Pompeo withdrawal deal with the Taliban as terrible and faults Biden for essentially going along with it.

Kemp's concern for Afghan refugees, however, isn't going over well with MAGA Republicans. On August 17, a fellow Georgia Republican, the far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, tweeted:

The "Omar" that Greene was referring to was progressive Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Omar is a Muslim and a Somali immigrant.

Another far-right MAGA Republican who is bashing Kemp is activist Stacy Rush, who tweeted:

Ted Ryun, a former George W. Bush speechwriter, wants to see Kemp voted out of office via a Republican gubernatorial primary:

But others were glad to hear Kemp say that he welcomes Afghan refugees in Georgia. Paedia Mixon, chief executive for New American Pathways, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "It's welcome news. It's always better to work in partnership and collaboration with the state government, and we're thrilled that Gov. Kemp is supportive of welcoming Afghan refugees."