Tipsheet

Lindsey Graham Accuses Trump of Making a 'Huge Obama-like Mistake'

President Trump may have temporarily lost the faith of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Wednesday after announcing the withdrawal of troops from Syria. Graham, who was one of the president's loudest defenders this past year, accused Trump of making an "Obama-like mistake." He suggested that the U.S. is not as far along as it thinks in its effort to defeat ISIS and he offered a preview of the potential consequences of a military withdrawal.

He's not the only Republican with that opinion.

Graham's criticism calls to mind Obama's failure to impose his red line warning to Syria in 2013 after Bashar al Assad used chemical weapons. Trump didn't make the same mistake when Assad again used chemical agents and promptly employed U.S. military action to put pressure on the dictator in April. Under Trump's leadership, the U.S. struck several chemical weapons facilities.

Now, the president's supporters say he is backtracking on that progress. According to Graham, Trump's decision to withdraw troops will be viewed "as a boost to ISIS desire to come back."