Democratic strategist Jennifer Holdsworth on Friday said that President Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from Syria is making for some “extremely strange bedfellows” after drawing mixed reactions from leaders around the world.
“I think there are so many complicated facets to us pulling out of Syria, it’s making for some extremely strange bedfellows,” said Holdsworth on “Rising.”
“You’ve got far left people in my party applauding the effort, Republicans that are tearing their hair out in Congress over the fact that we’re leaving because they think it’s creating a void; we are pretty much leaving Israel to defend for themselves,” she continued.
But the Democratic strategist added Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria lacked any strategic thought, arguing that it was a “knee-jerk reaction” to distract Americans from domestic issues, where she says the president is falling short.
Holdsworth’s comments come as the White House announced plans to pull all forces from the civil war–embroiled nation.
Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to declare victory over the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which drew criticism from members of his own party.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Trump’s during a news conference on Thursday, calling he president’s decision the “correct” move.
Defense Secretary James Mattis disagreed with the move and resigned from his position on Thursday, saying his views were not “aligned” with Trump’s.
Mattis’s resignation drew concern from both Democrats and Republicans alike, who saw the general as a source of stability within the Trump administration.
Following the news of his departure, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) praised Mattis for providing “sound and ethical military advice” to Trump.
Graham has been one of Trump’s most vocal critics following his decision to remove troops from Syria and is determined to convince Trump to reverse his course, insisting that the war in Afghanistan is also still worth fighting for.
“It is imperative Congress hold hearings on withdrawal decision in Syria — and potentially Afghanistan — to understand implications to our national security,” he tweeted on Friday.
— Tess Bonn
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