US election 2020: Taliban confirms support for Donald Trump

President Donald Trump gives thumbs up, as he departs after speaking from the Blue Room Balcony of the White House to a crowd of supporters. Photo / AP

United States President Donald Trump has won the support of the Taliban for his re-election bid, the Afghanistan-based militant group told CBS News.

A Taliban spokesperson told CBS the organistation hoped the incumbent Republican president would work on ending American military presence in the country.

The endorsement, made by Zabihullah Mujahid, came just as other Taliban leaders wished the president a speedy recovery from Covid-19.

Afghan security forces after a bomb attack in Kabul in 2014. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who endorsed Trump, claimed the responsibility for the attack. Photo / Getty Images

"We hope he will win the election and wind up US military presence in Afghanistan," Mujahid told CBS News.

Another Taliban leader added: "When we heard about Trump being Covid-19 positive, we got worried for his health, but seems he is getting better."

Tim Murtaugh, Trump's campaign spokesman, said on Saturday that they "reject" the endorsement.

"The Taliban should know that the president will always protect American interests by any means necessary," Murtaugh added.

There are fewer than 5000 US troops in Afghanistan. That number is expected to drop to 2500 by early next year, national security adviser Robert O'Brien has claimed.

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In February, the White House and the Taliban signed a pact where they planned to have troops withdrawn by the spring of 2021. The Taliban is required to split from al Qaeda and negotiate a deal for sharing power with Afghan government rivals.

Trump announced last week that all troops should be "home by Christmas", almost in exact contrast to the timeline that most US military commanders have.

"We should have the small remaining number of our BRAVE Men and Women serving in Afghanistan home by Christmas," he tweeted.

The Taliban has expressed support for Trump's "America first" stance.