Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D) and New York Senator Chuck Schumer (D) walked out of a bilateral briefing on Syria today between the House and The White House.
On Wednesday the House voted 354 – 60 to condemn Donald Trump’s withdrawal of troops from northern Syria. House J. Resolution 77 also calls on Turkish President Erdogan to cease military action against the Kurds in northeast Syria; supports humanitarian assistance for Kurdish communities in Syria affected by violence; and calls on the White House to present a plan to defeat ISIS.
Despite concerns expressed by Nancy Pelosi that a joint briefing between the House and The White House on Syrian would be canceled after the vote, the meeting commenced. According to multiple sources, the President had a meltdown in the middle of the meeting. Due to the meltdown, the Democrats walked out of the room and the meeting was cut short.
Stephanie Grisham, the current White House Press Secretary, refuted the claims that Trump had a meltdown and stated that the walkout was “not surprising.” Instead, Trump claimed that Pelosi was the one having a meltdown, calling her “Nervous Nancy.” He posted multiple pictures from the meeting, one of which accused the Democrats of not liking him, which they do not. He also called Pelosi and Shumer “Do Nothing Democrats.” Around the same time he posted pictures from the meeting, Trump also posted a link to a website calling for an end to the impeachment inquiry.
Then, he took things a step further when at 8:23 p.m. on Twitter, he posted this:
“Nancy Pelosi needs help fast! There is either something wrong with her “upstairs,” or she just plain doesn’t like our great Country. She had a total meltdown in the White House today. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!”
According to Schummer, the President does not have a plan to contain ISIS. He also suggested that the ISIS prisoners in Syria are no longer secure due to Trump’s actions. Over the past couple of days, it is clear that the decision to remove U.S. troops from Syria escalated tensions and violence in the region.
On October 9th, President Trump sent a letter to President Erdogan, saying that “history will look upon you favorably if you get this done the right and humane way. It will look upon you forever as the devil if good things don’t happen. Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool. I will call you later.” The White House confirmed that the letter is real.
It seems Trump’s solution to the problems created in northern Syria due to the removal of the U.S.’ military support of the Kurds is economic warfare. Though in the meantime, or until the House and The White House can come to an agreement, the Syrian Kurds are on their own defending Syria from ISIS, Turkey, and their own government.