President Trump on Thursday defended his move to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria by saying it makes no sense to risk U.S. lives for people who “do not appreciate what we are doing.”

“Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever?” Trump said on Twitter Thursday morning.



Does the USA want to be the Policeman of the Middle East, getting NOTHING but spending precious lives and trillions of dollars protecting others who, in almost all cases, do not appreciate what we are doing? Do we want to be there forever? Time for others to finally fight..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018



On Wednesday, several reports indicated that Trump was preparing to withdraw ground troops from Syria, and Trump declared victory over ISIS shortly after the reports emerged.

The Pentagon confirmed Wednesday that it had begun withdrawing U.S. ground troops from Syria, but indicated that the “campaign against ISIS is not over.”

Trump said the rest of the world is upset about the U.S. withdrawing from Syria because other countries will have to combat the threats from the Middle East. The president also issued a warning to ISIS that if it were to target the U.S. in an attack, “they are doomed.”

“Time for others to finally fight Russia, Iran, Syria & many others are not happy about the U.S. leaving, despite what the Fake News says, because now they will have to fight ISIS and others, who they hate, without us,” Trump tweeted. “I am building by far the most powerful military in the world. ISIS hits us they are doomed!”

[Opinion: Trump, Syria, and a ludicrous holiday gift to America's enemies]



....Russia, Iran, Syria & many others are not happy about the U.S. leaving, despite what the Fake News says, because now they will have to fight ISIS and others, who they hate, without us. I am building by far the most powerful military in the world. ISIS hits us they are doomed! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018



Trump said that the only reason troops were in Syria during his presidency was to fight ISIS, and said that with that mission accomplished, U.S. troops can return home.

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

