President Trump tweeted Sunday that the Treasury Department is “ready to go” with sanctions against Turkey over its military operation in northern Syria, which has sparked bipartisan criticism.
“Dealing with @LindseyGrahamSC and many members of Congress, including Democrats, about imposing powerful Sanctions on Turkey,” he tweeted.
“Treasury is ready to go, additional legislation may be sought,” he tweeted. “There is great consensus on this. Turkey has asked that it not be done. Stay tuned!”
The president has threatened economic sanctions against Turkey if it treated Syrian Kurds, which allied with the U.S. in the fight against ISIS, inhumanely.
{mosads}Several GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have condemned the president for announcing the removal of U.S. troops from northern Syria ahead of the Turkish military operation.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who is co-sponsoring Turkish sanctions legislation with Graham, on Sunday blasted the Trump administration’s delay in imposing sanctions
“For God’s sake, what are they waiting for? People are being killed right now,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, however, defended the delay in imposing sanctions on Turkey, saying the Trump administration is ready to move forward “at a moment’s notice.”