Trump Defends Syria Exit as Putin and Erdogan Fill a U.S. Void
- Leaving Syria was a campaign promise to end wars, Trump says
- Decision triggered resignation of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
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President Donald Trump defended his decision to withdraw from Syria as the fulfillment of a campaign promise, pushing back against criticism from lawmakers in his own party that the abrupt change in policy harms U.S. interests and cedes influence to Russia and Iran.
“I campaigned on getting out of Syria and other places,” Trump said Monday on Twitter. “Now when I start getting out the Fake News Media, or some failed Generals who were unable to do the job before I arrived, like to complain about me & my tactics, which are working. Just doing what I said I was going to do!”