CNN: Trump Irked With Military, National Security Team’s Pushback On Syria Exit

US President Donald Trump speaks during a retreat with Republican lawmakers at Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland, January 6, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Donald Trump grew increasingly irritated with his top military officials and national security team in a meeting Tuesday for opposing his compulsion to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, CNN reported.

According to senior administration officials who spoke with CNN, Trump carped about the amount of money the U.S. has spent in Syria — which he called fruitless — and questioned why other wealthy nations in the Persian Gulf hadn’t stepped in to help defeat ISIS in the region.

Trump-favored officials, like CIA Director Mike Pompeo — who Trump has tapped to serve as secretary of state — and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, reportedly warned Trump of the consequences of leaving Syria too soon. Dunford argued that a swift exit would give countries like Russia, Turkey and Iran an unencumbered opportunity to advance their own interests in the region.

Trump also reportedly suggested that he wanted the U.S. to finish its mission against ISIS in Syria within six months. Department of Defense Secretary James Mattis and other military officials reportedly resisted that timeline, saying it was too short. Trump reportedly told them to “just get it done,” per CNN.

Trump has reportedly bragged to confidants that his new National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was not in the meeting, “has his back” on his desire to withdrawal from Syria.

Despite his irritation, Trump ultimately agreed to hold off on withdrawing U.S. troops from the region.

Read CNN’s full report here.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. “Trump has reportedly bragged to confidants that his new National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was not in the meeting, “has his back” on his desire to withdrawal from Syria.”

    Because we can always bomb Iran and start a war against North Korea. Those would get better TV ratings.

  2. The President and CEO of Phizer is today dealing with immense pressure from his 9 year old son. Billy insists on overseeing the proposed merger between his father’s conglomerate and rival Merck. Observers say it’s a coin flip as to whether Billy gets his way, and if he does both companies will just have to live with the outcome.

  3. The US has been a champion of the Kurds for decades, and especially after the first Gulf War. Trump just made things worse for Kurds in five countries: Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Iran and Armenia.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

55 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for sniffit Avatar for christianhankel Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for lastroth Avatar for phlebas Avatar for tao Avatar for airportman Avatar for clauscph Avatar for primergray Avatar for rickjones Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for greysea Avatar for enn Avatar for kenga Avatar for motezart Avatar for holywah

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: