WASHINGTON — Longtime televangelist and ally to the president Pat Robertson said Trump is “in danger of losing the mandate of heaven” over his announcement that American forces will pull out of a region of Syria.

Calling Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a dictator and a thug, Robertson said that he is “absolutely appalled that the United States is going to betray those democratic forces in northern Syria, that we are possibly going to allow the Turkish to come in against the Kurds.”

Pat Robertson is "appalled" by Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria: "The President of the United States is in great danger of losing the mandate of Heaven if he permits this to happen." pic.twitter.com/YGeNYpbGrF — Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) October 7, 2019

“To say that (Erdoğan) is an ally of America is nonsense. He is in it for himself,” Robertson said.

The White House announced late Sunday that "Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into Northern Syria. The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation." Erdoğan considers the Kurdish forces terrorists allied with insurgents inside his country.

Robertson, who created the Christian Broadcast Network and is host of the 700 Club, made the comments during Monday's show.

Though Robertson has been a consistent Trump defender, he continued to rip the decision, saying that “the president, who allowed (Washington Post journalist Jamal) Khashoggi to be cut in pieces without any repercussions whatsoever, is now allowing the Christians and the Kurds to be massacred by the Turks.”

“And I believe — and I want to say this with great solemnity — the President of the United States is in danger of losing the mandate of heaven if he permits this to happen,” he concluded.

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Robertson’s comment joins a flurry of criticism around the Syria decision from GOP lawmakers and commentators. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said “a precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime.” Sen. Lindsey Graham who labeled the President’s move as “irresponsible” and a "stain on America's honor.” Both have been stalwart allies to the president.

Fox and Friends Host Brian Kilmeade was visibly upset with the decision on Monday's show and called Trump’s decision “disastrous." He questioned why any future ally would want to side with the U.S, exclaiming, "What kind of message is that?"

Brian Kilmeade fights with his co-hosts over Trump throwing Syrian Kurds under the bus: "What kind of message is that to the next ally that wants to side with us? ... All we did is arm them, and they did all the work. And now we say 'good luck. Good luck surviving.' Disaster." pic.twitter.com/ktyDqsM4lS — Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) October 7, 2019

The president has defended the plan, telling reporters in the Roosevelt Room Monday that "It's time to come back home."

"We're 7,000 miles away," Trump said. "I campaigned on the fact that I was going to bring our soldiers home."

Robertson once declared that Trump was "God's man for this job." Trump typically receives high praise from the Christian-right, and evangelicals strongly support him.

A recent survey showed 77% of white evangelical Protestants approve of Trump’s performance while those who report attending church weekly were more likely to approve than those who attend less often, 81% versus 73%.

Contributing: David Jackson, John Fritze, William Cummings, Deirdre Shesgreen, Ben Tobin

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pat Robertson: Trump is 'losing the mandate of heaven' over Syria decision