Trump, Melania on Surprise Christmas Visit to U.S. Troops in Iraq

Published December 27th, 2018 - 08:04 GMT

Days after declaring he wants to pull out U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan, American President Donald Trump and First Lady have made an unexpected visit to the American military forces stationed in Iraq.

Trump supported his decision to remove troops from Syria: “Our presence in Syria was not open-ended, and it was never intended to be permanent. Eight years ago, we went there for three months, and we never left,” he said. 

 

 
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US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump signs a hat as First Lady Melania Trump looks on as they greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. President Donald Trump arrived in Iraq on his first visit to US troops deployed in a war zone since his election two years ago. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to speak to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US First Lady Melania Trump greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military as First Lady Melania Trump looks on during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a military briefing during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to visit members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump signs a hat as First Lady Melania Trump looks on as they greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. President Donald Trump arrived in Iraq on his first visit to US troops deployed in a war zone since his election two years ago. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to speak to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US First Lady Melania Trump greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. 
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military as First Lady Melania Trump looks on during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a military briefing during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. 
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to visit members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump signs a hat as First Lady Melania Trump looks on as they greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. President Donald Trump arrived in Iraq on his first visit to US troops deployed in a war zone since his election two years ago. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump signs a hat as First Lady Melania Trump looks on as they greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. President Donald Trump arrived in Iraq on his first visit to US troops deployed in a war zone since his election two years ago. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to speak to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to speak to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US First Lady Melania Trump greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US First Lady Melania Trump greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. 
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military as First Lady Melania Trump looks on during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military as First Lady Melania Trump looks on during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a military briefing during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a military briefing during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. 
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump greets members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to visit members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018.
SAUL LOEB / AFP
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive to visit members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018. SAUL LOEB / AFP

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