Former CIA Director John Brennan John Owen BrennanJournalism or partisanship? The media's mistakes of 2016 continue in 2020 Comey on Clinton tweet: 'I regret only being involved in the 2016 election' Ex-CIA Director Brennan questioned for 8 hours in Durham review of Russia probe MORE blasted President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE for announcing he'd pull U.S. troops from Syria, calling it an example of how "Trump’s impulsive and self-satisfying 'gut'" present a danger to U.S. national security.

"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.

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"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.

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The decision was met with bipartisan criticism. For example. Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (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.