Count Sen. Lindsey Graham among the Republican critics of Donald Trump’s declaration of victory over ISIS in Syria and his apparently unilateral decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria:
WATCH: Sen. Graham on Syria troop withdrawal:
"I don't know where it came from, but it needs to be reconsidered … I don't know how this decision was made. It literally came out of left field. It has rattled the world." pic.twitter.com/BiE4OUtkHL
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 20, 2018
Sen. Lindsey Graham President Trump's plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria: "I have tried to help President Trump where I can … but I find myself in the situation where the best way I can help the president is to tell him the truth as I see it." https://t.co/yFdfMe9DR8 pic.twitter.com/QERyTFkbv9
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) December 20, 2018
So … what’s Graham gonna do to push back against Trump’s decision? Brace for angry tweets, y’all:
.@LindseyGrahamSC just told me to expect him to tweet back at the president every time he tweets about Syria. "I'm not letting this go."
— Emma Dumain (@Emma_Dumain) December 20, 2018
That’ll teach him?
I'm gonna tweet at you so harrrrddd…..
— Will Schambach (@wschambach1) December 20, 2018
Such checking! Such balancing!
— vanessa oh come all ye individual 1 steck (@vanessasteck) December 20, 2018
"The tweet is mightier than the sword" – Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1839
— Mary (@mkrMich) December 20, 2018
Profile in Courage, 2018
— Matt Floyd (@floydmatt) December 20, 2018
Recommended
"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country. "
"I'm going to tweet back."
pretty much the same.
— mxyplyzyk (@mr_mxyplyzyk) December 20, 2018
Rage tweeting has replaced governing ??♀️ https://t.co/tqwJfWbirP
— Corie Whalen (@CorieWhalen) December 20, 2018
Sad!
***
Update:
Annnnnd we’re off!
So hard to believe that Lindsey Graham would be against saving soldier lives & billions of $$$. Why are we fighting for our enemy, Syria, by staying & killing ISIS for them, Russia, Iran & other locals? Time to focus on our Country & bring our youth back home where they belong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 20, 2018
What’s Graham got to say about that? Stay tuned!
***
Update:
It took him several hours, but Graham finally responded:
Mr. President,
I admire and share your love and admiration for our troops.
The troops believe in their commanders and so should you.
They are worthy of your trust. https://t.co/dJZHhjdMaR
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
I urge you to follow sound military advice when it comes to withdrawing from Syria and the fight against ISIS.
Withdrawing from Syria is a shared goal but the ‘When and How’ – matter.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
I believe you are on course to make the same mistake President Obama made in Iraq.
It will turn out no better for you than it did for him.
There is a lot of bipartisan support for a conditions-based withdrawal and I will stand with you to achieve that goal.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
However, I cannot and will not empower a decision that I believe – no matter how well-intentioned – is equivalent to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
The idea of outsourcing our national security and the fight against ISIS to Russia, Iran, and Assad/Syria is doomed to fail.
It will result in an Open Borders policy for ISIS in Syria and elsewhere.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
You are right to want others to fight more and pay more.
The Kurds have fought fiercely against ISIS and have been valuable allies.
They deserve better.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
Finally, I choose to fight against ISIS and other radical Islamists in their backyard – not ours.
I choose to fight this war with partners – not alone.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
I ask that you listen to your national security team who are immensely talented.
Take this opportunity to reassess our policy and how to withdraw with honor from Syria achieving real and lasting security.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
So, what did Graham get for trying to butter Trump up? General Mattis’ forced retirement.
It is with great sadness that I was informed of the resignation of General Mattis.
He is one of the great military leaders in American history.
He should be proud of the service he has rendered to President @realDonaldTrump and our nation.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
General Mattis is a combination of intellect and integrity.
He has been in the fight against radical Islam for decades and provided sound and ethical military advice to President Trump.
He is a role model for the concept of Duty, Honor, Country.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 20, 2018
In other words, Mattis is everything that Trump is not. Aren’t you glad you tried to be Trump’s friend now? Was it worth it?
Lindsey Graham thought he could buy himself some currency with The Donald by going relentlessly to bat for him on issues like the Kavanaugh confirmation. He, uh, thought wrong. https://t.co/wBQ3rqJrK9
— Andrew Egger (@EggerTWS) December 20, 2018
He certainly did.