Assessing Claims That Trump Freed the Leader of Afghanistan From Prison in 2018

Several social media posts are promoting the claim that the current leader of Afghanistan was released from prison in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump. 

“Let this sink in,” the posts state. “The new ruler of Afghanistan was in prison until Trump let him out in 2018.” The posts include photos of Trump and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban’s political leader who also serves as deputy prime minister in Afghanistan. 

These claims are mostly true, but lack important context. Baradar, the second-most powerful Taliban leader—below only Supreme Commander Hibatullah Akhundzada—indeed spent nearly eight years imprisoned in...