Brennan blasts Trump’s ‘wrong-headed’ and ‘dangerous’ Syria decision

“This wrong-headed decision is but one example of how dangerous it is for our national security to be controlled by Mr. Trump’s impulsive and self-satisfying ‘gut,'” Brennan, a frequent Trump critic, wrote on Twitter Thursday.

“He is surrendering America’s role on the world stage. Republicans who make excuses for him enable these actions.”

This wrong-headed decision is but one example of how dangerous it is for our national security to be controlled by Mr. Trump’s impulsive and self-satisfying “gut.” He is surrendering America’s role on the world stage. Republicans who make excuses for him enable these actions. https://t.co/HPponW8pRB

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) December 20, 2018

Brennan’s criticism came a day after the White House announced that the U.S. had defeated ISIS in Syria and would begin moving troops out of the region as a result. 

“Five years ago, ISIS was a very powerful and dangerous force in the Middle East, and now the United States has defeated the territorial caliphate,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

“These victories over ISIS in Syria do not signal the end of the Global Coalition or its campaign. We have started returning United States troops home as we transition to the next phase of this campaign.”

Trump later defended the decision in a video released on Twitter on Wednesday, saying that “we have won” the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

“They’re all coming back and they’re coming back now. We won, and that’s the way we want it and that’s the way they want it,” Trump said in the clip, pointing to the sky to reference soldiers killed in battle. 

The decision was met with bipartisan criticism. For example. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) described the move as an “Obama-like mistake.”

Trump defended the move on Thursday in a series of tweets, saying that it was “no surprise.” He also asked if the U.S. wants to be there “forever.”

“Getting out of Syria was no surprise. I’ve been campaigning on it for years, and six months ago, when I very publicly wanted to do it, I agreed to stay longer,” he said in a tweet.

“Russia, Iran, Syria & others are the local enemy of ISIS. We were doing there [sic] work. Time to come home & rebuild. #MAGA”

Trump later claimed that Russia, Iran, Syria and “many others are not happy about the U.S. leaving, despite what the Fake News says.”

Russian president Vladimir Putin said in a news conference Thursday that he agreed with the U.S.’s decision.