Trump and Macron Offer Differing Versions of Syrian Raid’s Aftermath

French President Emmanuel Macron was self-congratulatory over what he said on Sunday was his success in convincing President Trump to commit to leaving American forces in Syria rather than pulling them out “as quickly as possible” as he said last week. But Macron’s version was not supported by President Trump, who left wiggle-room. In a televised interview on Sunday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley set forth three criteria for an American withdrawal from Syria: the chemical weapons threat neutralized; the defeat of the Islamic State; and an ability to see what Iran is up to. But a statement issued on Sunday by White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders triggered the ambiguity, asserting that “The US mission has not changed – the president has been clear that he wants US forces home as quickly as possible.” Sanders went beyond Haley’s statement in calling on America’s allies to “take greater responsibility both militarily and financially for securing the region.”