WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is declaring victory against the Islamic State group in a new White House video explaining his sudden decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria.
Trump says in the video, “We have won against ISIS.” And he says, “Now it’s time for our troops to come back home.”
Officials announced Wednesday Trump would be pulling all 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria, sparking alarm and outrage from Republican lawmakers.
The president’s sudden declaration of victory also contradicts his own experts’ assessments of the situation on the ground.
Trump says it is “heartbreaking” to have to write letters and make calls to the loved ones of those killed in battle.
He says, “They’re all coming back and they’re coming back now.”
