Dec 22, 2018

Trump slams U.S. envoy to anti-ISIS coalition for his resignation

In a string of tweets Saturday night, President Trump criticized the media for "making such a big deal" about the resignation of Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.

Brett McGurk, who I do not know, was appointed by President Obama in 2015. Was supposed to leave in February but he just resigned prior to leaving. Grandstander? The Fake News is making such a big deal about this nothing event! ... If anybody but your favorite President, Donald J. Trump, announced that, after decimating ISIS in Syria, we were going to bring our troops back home (happy & healthy), that person would be the most popular hero in America. With me, hit hard instead by the Fake News Media. Crazy! ... When President Obama ingloriously fired Jim Mattis, I gave him a second chance. Some thought I shouldn’t, I thought I should. Interesting relationship-but I also gave all of the resources that he never really had. Allies are very important-but not when they take advantage of U.S.

The big picture: Trump called McGurk "a grandstander" after he submitted his resignation Saturday, which was reportedly in protest of Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. McGurk and Defense Secretary James Mattis, two of the highest-ranking officials involved in the U.S.' Syria operation, have both resigned because of their opposition to Trump's decision, joining dozens of national security experts, world leaders and congressmen who have decried the withdrawal as a dangerous move.

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