French president Emmanuel Macron has claimed that he convinced Donald Trump to keep US forces in Syria “for the long term” during the run-up to air strikes on Syrian weapons sites by French, US and UK forces on Saturday.
“Ten days ago, President Trump said the USA’s will is to disengage from Syria,” Macron said during a TV interview. “We convinced him that it was necessary to stay. Please be reassured we’ve convinced him that we had to stay on in the long-term.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
The Week Unwrapped: Sudan, tackling homelessness and fake newsPodcast What is happening in Sudan? Could London really end rough sleeping? And why has Joe Lycett being making up stories?
-
Taylor Swift's surprise double album: an event of 'world-shaking proportions'Why Everyone's Talking About Fans are 'reeling' after The Tortured Poets Department is followed by The Anthology – 15 additional tracks
-
Quiz of The Week: 13 - 19 AprilPuzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
-
'A direct, protracted war with Israel is not something Iran is equipped to fight'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
How powerful is Iran?Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikesSpeed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
-
Why are Republicans trying to change Nebraska's Electoral College vote?Today's Big Question It's a chance for Donald Trump to block Joe Biden's path to re-election
