Defending his decision to withdraw soldiers from Syria as part of a greater plan to bring American troops home from overseas campaigns, President Donald Trump, voice wavering, explained that he is tired of sending letters to the families of deceased soldiers.
President Trump is removing soldiers from Northern Syria in a move widely criticized by Democrats and the war hawk wing of the Republican Party. The president first announced his intention to begin withdrawing troops from the region early this year, and was met with almost immediate push back from the same politicians.
“You know, I have to sign letters often, to parents of young soldiers that were killed,” said President Trump. “And it’s the hardest thing I have to do in this job. I hate it. I hate it.”
President Trump went on, “Afghanistan. I signed one the other day, Iraq. Syria. They get blown up by mines, they get taken out by a sniper, and I have to write letters to people.”
“And we make each letter different. Each person is different. And we make them personal but no matter what you do it’s devastating. The parents will never be the same, the families will never be the same.”
The president explained that, in his view, previous administrations’ have continued the United States’ overseas military campaigns with no clear objective or goals in sight, and maintained that there “has to be an endgame.”
“People are killed, many people are still being killed,” said President Trump. “It’s going to go on that way, for perhaps a long time.”
President Trump went on, explaining that his administration is willing to intervene when necessary, but there must be clear objectives.
“And we’re willing to do what we need to do, but there has to be an endgame. If you stay it’s going to be the same thing, eventually you’re going to have to leave, it’s going to be the same thing.”
He added, “I think what we’re doing is the right thing.”
President Trump also reminded the press that bringing the troops home was one of the promises he made during the 2016 campaign, and noted that his poll numbers are rising among independents, possibly as a result of his kept promise.
