President Donald Trump said he does not like when countries “take advantage” of the United States in “Military Protection and Trade.” | Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images white house Trump swipes at senators, Mattis over military alliances

President Donald Trump on Monday offered a fresh rebuke of senators who have criticized his recent military actions and the departure of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, jabbing at the retired Marine general as well.

In two tweets, Trump pushed back on the notion that he does not value global military alliances, saying he does not like when countries “take advantage” of the United States in “Military Protection and Trade.”


“To those few Senators who think I don’t like or appreciate being allied with other countries, they are wrong, I DO. What I don’t like, however, is when many of these same countries take advantage of their friendship with the United States, both in Military Protection and Trade…” Trump tweeted, adding in a followup: “.... We are substantially subsidizing the Militaries of many VERY rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our TAXPAYERS, on Trade. General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I DO, and it is being fixed!”

It was unclear which senators Trump was referring to, but Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) appeared on NBC’s “Meet The Press” on Sunday and called out Trump over his divergent view of foreign policy from Mattis.

“The greatest asset we have is that most people around the world want to be allied with us,” Toomey said, adding: “It's a force multiplier, it's a great ability to achieve our goals and I don't think the president shares that view nearly to the extent that the rest of us do, and I think senators need to step up and reassert a bigger role for the Senate in finding our foreign policy.”

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) criticized Trump's decision on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday, calling for continued alliances to defeat the Islamic State. “The mission against ISIS, where the United States built a coalition of dozens of countries, is on the verge of winning — of completely shutting down ISIS in Syria," Coons said.

Mattis, in his resignation letter, also highlighted the need for global military alliances, writing: “One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships.”

Later on Monday, Trump directed his ire to Brett McGurk, the U.S. envoy overseeing the fight against the Islamic State who announced his resignation following Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria.

"For all of the sympathizers out there of Brett McGurk remember, he was the Obama appointee who was responsible for loading up airplanes with 1.8 Billion Dollars in CASH & sending it to Iran as part of the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal (now terminated) approved by Little Bob Corker," Trump tweeted.

Shortly after noon on Monday, Trump praised Saudi Arabia for committing to spend money on Syria.

"Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States,” he tweeted. “See? Isn’t it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away. Thanks to Saudi A!"

The State Department in August announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to supply $100 million to the U.S.-led coalition aiding Syria, the The Wall Street Journal reported at the time, noting that the figure was sharply lower than the billions in aid that Trump had originally requested from the Saudi government.