President Donald Trump's announcement he will pull U.S. troops out of Syria was "impulsive, irresponsible, and dangerous," Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Thursday, and he hopes he will reconsider it.
The only people happy today about this decision, in my opinion, are the Syrians, the Iranians, the Russians, and ISIS and its allies," the Maryland Democrat told CNN's "New Day.
"It was a terrible decision that puts our country in a bad spot, but more importantly puts some of our allies in a very terrible spot, who have been helpful to us and it encourages ISIS," Hoyer added. "It doesn't defeat ISIS."
The fact Trump says the United States has won is "fake news," said Hoyer, echoing Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
"We haven't won, and all of his advisers, have indicated we ought to be staying there to keep things as stable as possible and not to create a vacuum, which Russia and ISIS and the Iranians are going to fill," Hoyer added. "It is a very dangerous and ill-advised decision in my view, and I think the majority of Congress will share that view."
Hoyer also said he hopes reports Trump had a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Erdogan before the Syria announcement have no connection.
"I hope it's not because Erdogan has proposed or planned some very dangerous activity, vis-a-vis our Kurdish allies and friends," Hoyer said. "If he has made a deal in any way, it is not good for the United States, the Middle East, and certainly not good for our positions with ISIS, Syria, and Iran."
Trump also criticized former President Barack Obama for withdrawing troops in Syria and creating a vacuum for ISIS, noted Hoyer.
"Yes, the Americans would like their troops home, but to create the vacuum we have created in my view will be a more dangerous situation," Hoyer said.
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Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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