President Donald Trump told lawmakers that he wholeheartedly agrees with calls to keep a military presence in Syria — just two months after making a surprise declaration to pull all troops out of the war-torn Middle Eastern country.

NBC News reported that Trump responded to a February 22 letter from a bipartisan group of Congress members calling on him to keep U.S. troops in Syria.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We support a small American stabilizing force in Syria,” the group wrote, saying that such a force should include “a small contingent of American troops and ground forces from our European allies” that “is essential to ensure stability and prevent the return of ISIS.”

In the White House’s response obtained by NBC News, the president wrote that “like you, we seek to ensure that all of the gains made in Syria are not lost, that ISIS never returns, that Iran is not emboldened, and that we consolidate our gains and ensure the best outcome in Geneva for American interests.”

Writing directly on the letter and adding his signature, Trump added: “I agree 100%. ALL is being done.”