President Trump
Donald TrumpDemocrats defeat GOP effort to declare 'lost confidence' in Biden after Afghanistan withdrawal Prosecutors say Jan. 6 rioters committed roughly 1,000 assaults on federal officers Texas emerges as new battleground in abortion fight MORE on Monday defended his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria as Turkey plans to launch a military operation in the region, tweeting that he would "obliterate" Ankara's economy if it acts in a way he deems inappropriate.
The president, in a series of tweets, threatened to punish Turkey if it did anything "off limits" and insisted that the U.S. military could "always go back & BLAST" if needed.
"As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!)," Trump tweeted, referencing his past implementation of tariffs that hampered an already scuffling Turkish economy.
As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
Trump added that Turkey and others must "watch over the captured ISIS fighters and families," and claimed the U.S. has captured "100% of the ISIS Caliphate."
"It is time now for others in the region, some of great wealth, to protect their own territory," Trump tweeted.
Trump also tweeted that the decision was a fulfillment of his campaign pledge to extricate the U.S. from "endless wars, where our great Military functions as a policing operation to the benefit of people who don’t even like the USA."
"The endless and ridiculous wars are ENDING!" he tweeted. "We will be focused on the big picture, knowing we can always go back & BLAST!"
Trump claimed that China and Russia were the "most unhappy" about the decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the region, even though Russia has aligned itself with President Bashar Assad in Syria that the U.S. opposes.
I was elected on getting out of these ridiculous endless wars, where our great Military functions as a policing operation to the benefit of people who don’t even like the USA. The two most unhappy countries at this move are Russia & China, because they love seeing us bogged.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2019
The tweets appeared to be an effort to smooth over criticism from numerous Republican and Democratic lawmakers who warned that withdrawing U.S. forces from the region could leave America's Kurdish allies vulnerable to a slaughter, damage America's relationship with its partners in the region and lay the foundation for a resurgence of ISIS.
The White House announced late Sunday that Turkey will soon be launching a military operation in northern Syria and that U.S. troops will no longer be “in the immediate area” when it happens. The U.S. had more than 1,000 troops deployed in northern Syria, working closely with the Kurdish-led forces.
Multiple press reports early Monday indicated that U.S. troops had already started their withdrawal. The decision poses dangers for the Kurds, which Turkey views as a terrorist group.
Republican lawmakers lined up to criticize the decision. Sen. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamMcConnell: Biden 'is not going to be removed from office' Biden's Afghanistan exit: A decision for the long term Heavy fighting reported in last Afghanistan province not under Taliban control MORE (R-S.C.) called it a "disaster in the making" and promised a Senate resolution opposing it. Sen. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneyRomney blasts Biden over those left in Afghanistan: 'Bring them home' Romney: Afghanistan crisis the fault of both Biden, Trump administrations Sunday shows preview: Bombing in Kabul delivers blow to evacuation effort; US orders strikes on ISIS-K MORE (R-Utah) described the move as a "betrayal." Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioAs Biden falters, a two-man race for the 2024 GOP nomination begins to take shape The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by AT&T - Defiant Biden defends US exit from Afghanistan 2024 GOP battleground takes shape in Iowa MORE (R-Fla.) lamented the move as a "grave mistake." And Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsWelcome to ground zero of climate chaos A tale of two chambers: Trump's power holds in House, wanes in Senate Bipartisan blip: Infrastructure deal is last of its kind without systemic change MORE (R-Maine) called it "terribly unwise."
Trump has long argued against U.S. involvement in military conflicts abroad, and has indicated his desire to get out of Syria at various times during his presidency. In December, he declared that the U.S. had defeated ISIS and that American troops would be coming home.
The decision triggered the resignation of then-Defense Secretary James Mattis
James Norman MattisHouse panel advances 8B defense bill Who authorized Afghanistan in the first place? Want to evaluate Donald Trump's judgment? Listen to Donald Trump MORE and drew GOP rebukes. The withdrawal was ultimately delayed, with some U.S. forces remaining in the region.
