Senate Republicans have had enough of President Donald Trump’s reckless foreign policy decisions and are preparing to issue a “stunning rebuke” of the president, according to a new report from The Hill:
“(GOP Republicans) plan to send Trump a stern admonishment by voting Thursday afternoon on an amendment sponsored by (Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell warning ‘the precipitous withdrawal’ of U.S. forces from Syria and Afghanistan ‘could put at risk hard-won gains and United States national security.'”
A Republican senator who is closely aligned with McConnell noted:
“Power over foreign policy has shifted to the executive branch over the last 30 years. Many of us in the Senate want to start taking it back.”
The resolution, which will be voted on Thursday afternoon, would specifically address the terror groups ISIS and Al Qaeda, which pose a “continuing threat to the homeland and our allies” and maintain an “ability to operate in Syria and Afghanistan.”
This break from Trump by the GOP comes less than a month after Trump declared on Twitter that ISIS had been defeated:
We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2018
On the Senate floor this week, McConnell defended his amendment, commenting that it:
“Re-emphasizes the expertise and counsel offered by experts who have served presidents of both parties.”
If the amendment passes, it would be the second time this week that Trump has been criticized for his recent foreign policy decisions and remarks on the issues of Syria, ISIS, Russia, and North Korea.
Earlier this week, top U.S intelligence leaders told the Senate Intelligence Committee that ISIS, North Korea, and Russia all remain major threats to the United States, which prompted the president to attack their remarks, writing on Twitter:
The Intelligence people seem to be extremely passive and naive when it comes to the dangers of Iran. They are wrong! When I became President Iran was making trouble all over the Middle East, and beyond. Since ending the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal, they are MUCH different, but….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
….a source of potential danger and conflict. They are testing Rockets (last week) and more, and are coming very close to the edge. There economy is now crashing, which is the only thing holding them back. Be careful of Iran. Perhaps Intelligence should go back to school!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 30, 2019
Those tweets led Senator John Thune (R-SD) to remark:
“I don’t know how many times you can say this, but I would prefer that the president stay off Twitter, particularly with regard to these important national security issues where you’ve got people who are experts and have the background and are professionals. In most cases I think he ought to, when it comes to their judgment, take it into consideration.”
Expect more angry tweets from Trump when the GOP amendment containing the resolution passes.
Featured Image Via PBS
