points. >> reporter: today biden claimed no americans have had trouble reaching the gates of the crowded kabul airport. >> we know of no circumstance where american citizens are carrying an american passport are trying to get through to the airport. >> reporter: that report contradicting reports on the ground from cnn's own team. >> reporter: anyone who says that any american can get in here is -- yeah, i mean, technically it's possible, but it's extremely difficult, and it is dangerous. >> reporter: biden's latest remarks followed days of defensiveness over the botched drawdown. >> there will be plenty of time to criticize and second-guess when this operation is over. but now i'm focused on getting this job done. >> reporter: while making clear americans are his first priority, the president vowed to help afghans who are now targets of the taliban for working with u.s. troops. >> there's no important thing that bringing out american