MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Illinois Republican leader John Shimkus says he's 'heartbroken' over Trump's 'terrible' move in Syria; no longer supports the president

Rep. John Shimkus said in a statement that he is 'heartbroken' by Washington's decision of pulling out troops from Syria that has exposed old allies Kurds to Turkey's military might. He said the US stabbed its allies in the back.

BY SHUBHAM GHOSH

UPDATED MAR 11, 2020

President Donald Trump’s hasty decision to pull American troops out of northern Syria last weekend and leaving the Kurds -- one of the US’ closest allies in the fight against terrorism -- exposed against regional enemies has angered not just the Democrats but even Republicans. While a number of GOP members have slammed the president, Illinois Republican Representative John Shimkus has gone on to announce that he no longer sees himself as a supporter of Trump who is set to contest the presidential elections in another 13 months’ time.

Congressional Republicans have stood by Trump even when he is facing an impeachment inquiry in connection to another foreign policy controversy but when it comes to Syria, they have joined the Democrats in criticizing Trump as his drastic move saw Turkey launching an offensive against the Kurds, leaving tens of thousands in great peril.

Speaking in an interview to St. Louis-based radio station KMOX, Shimkus -- who announced in August that he is not running for the president’s office -- called Trump’s decision on Syria as “terrible” and “despicable” and that it left him “heartbroken”.

Turkish armored vehicles escort members of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army, a militant group active in parts of northwest Syria, as they enter Syria on October 10, 2019 in Akcakale, Turkey. The military action is part of a campaign to extend Turkish control of more of northern Syria, a large swath of which is currently held by Syrian Kurds, whom Turkey regards as a threat. U.S. President Donald Trump granted tacit American approval to this campaign, withdrawing his country's troops from several Syrian outposts near the Turkish border. (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

“I'm heartbroken. In fact, I called my chief of staff in DC and said, 'Pull my name off the I support Donald Trump list.' We have just stabbed our allies in the back. This has just shocked, embarrassed, and angered me,” the 61-year-old said.

Republican Shimkus calls Trump a "populist"

Shimkus even called President Trump a “populist” and said while some people like his “America First” populism, he did not like the idea of America abandoning those who stood by it over the years.

In a statement issued on the matter on Thursday, October 10, on KMOX, Shimkus said he was removing his name off Trump’s campaign’s official list of supporters because of his “terrible foreign policy decision” although he reiterated his support for the president's domestic policy.

Other Republican leaders, known to be allies of President Trump, also felt his decision on Syria could be counter-productive.

Sen. Lindsey Graham thinks it's 'disaster in the making'

South Carolina Senator and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham, who is known to be a close ally of the White House, felt the situation is “a disaster in the making” and feared that it could see a revival of the Islamic State, the terror outfit that the Kurds helped defeat in Syria. Trump though agreed with Graham’s call for legislation to punish Turkey with sanctions, he mocked the senator saying he thought the latter would like the US to stay in Syria for the next 200 years.

Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt and Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler urged President Trump to reconsider his decision with Hartzler even calling it a “mistake”.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, October 9, the Syrian Democratic Forces said they were suspending the military actions against the IS in northern Syria since they had to deal with Turkey's attacks, an American defense official told CNN.