Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamLincoln Project mocks Lindsey Graham's fundraising lag with Sarah McLachlan-themed video The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Republicans lawmakers rebuke Trump on election Trump dumbfounds GOP with latest unforced error MORE (R-S.C.) on Wednesday stepped up his criticism of President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northeastern Syria, saying it could be a “complete and utter national security disaster in the making.”

“I hope President Trump is right in his belief that Turkeys invasion of Syria is of no concern to us, abandoning the Kurds won’t come back to haunt us, ISIS won’t reemerge, and Iran will not fill the vacuum created by this decision,” Graham tweeted.

ADVERTISEMENT

“However, I firmly believe that if President Trump continues to make such statements this will be a disaster worse than President Obama’s decision to leave Iraq,” he added.

Graham, who is normally one of Trump's strongest Senate supporters, also said he was concerned that “we will not have allies in the future against radical Islam, ISIS will reemerge, & Iran’s rise in Syria will become a nightmare for Israel. I fear this is a complete and utter national security disaster in the making and I hope President Trump will adjust his thinking.”

I worry we will not have allies in the future against radical Islam, ISIS will reemerge, & Iran’s rise in Syria will become a nightmare for Israel.



I fear this is a complete and utter national security disaster in the making and I hope President Trump will adjust his thinking. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 16, 2019

Trump earlier in the day defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from the region ahead of a Turkish offensive, while adding that the Kurdish fighters who had fought ISIS on behalf of the U.S. are “not angels.”

The president's comments, Graham said, "also completely undercut" Vice President Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Trump's push for win with Sudan amps up pressure on Congress Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize MORE’s "ability to end the conflict."

The statements by President Trump about Turkey’s invasion being of no concern to us also completely undercut Vice President Pence and Sec. Pompeo’s ability to end the conflict. — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 16, 2019

Pence and Pompeo are traveling to Turkey to meet with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the hope of brokering a cease-fire. However, Erdoğan has already shot the possibility down, according to Turkish media reports.

Updated at 2:29 p.m.