"We give Israel $4.5 billion a year and they're doing very well defending themselves, if you take a look," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday during a previously unannounced trip to Iraq.
Defending his recent decision to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria, a move that sparked broad concern among U.S. allies, including Israel, Trump went on to say that he had informed Israel of the move. Using a nickname for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, "I don't see it. I spoke with Bibi. I told Bibi."
"We're going to take good care of Israel. Israel is going to be good. But we give Israel $4.5 billion a year. And we give them, frankly, a lot more money than that, if you look at the books – a lot more money than that. And they've been doing a very good job for themselves," Trump added.
In an effort to dispel concerns voiced by Israeli officials, including the fear that Israel will have to combat the encroaching Iranian presence in Syria without U.S. forces, the American president went on to add that "I'm the one that moved the embassy to Jerusalem. I was the one who was willing to do that. So that's the way it is. We are going to take great care of Israel."
In a speech to troops, Trump doubled down on his decision to withdraw from Syria, reiterating the argument that America's military power is being exploited by other nations.
"America shouldn't be doing the fighting for every nation on earth, not being reimbursed in many cases at all. If they want us to do the fighting, they also have to pay a price," Trump said. "And sometimes that's also a monetary price, so we're not the suckers of the world."
"We are no longer the suckers, folks. And people aren't looking at us as suckers," Trump declared.
The surprise visit to meet with American troops in Iraq on Wednesday was Trump's first journey to an active combat zone since taking office in Jan. 2017.
The president, who was joined by first lady Melania Trump, spent three hours on the ground with U.S. forces stationed at the al-Asad Airbase, 110 miles northwest of Baghdad, and met with the U.S. ambassador and commanders on the ground.
The base, in Anbar province, became one of the most important bases for U.S. Marines after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Since U.S. forces returned to Iraq in 2014, the base has played an important role in the fight against the Islamic State group because of its location.
Trump said the U.S. would remain in Iraq, adding that "In fact, we could use this as the base if we wanted to do something in Syria."
He assured reporters that many people will start seeing things on Syria the same way he does.
Trump made the decision to withdraw forces from Syria abruptly last week, against the advice of top aides and commanders, including Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned the next day.
"I think a lot of people are going to come around to my way of thinking. It's time for us to start using our head," he said.
Meanwhile Wednesday, a scheduled meeting between Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi was canceled. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the meeting did not take place because the invitation was made only two hours in advance and the Iraqi prime minister was unable to get to the base in time.
