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Defiant Trump rebukes critics over Syria, G7, impeachment

Reuters Videos

At a cabinet meeting on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back against criticism of his handling of Syria, his desire to use a Trump property for government business, and against an impeachment inquiry by Democrats in Congress.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"I think the Democrats fight dirty. I think the Democrats are lousy politicians with lousy policy."

The comments come as Trump faces intense criticism on multiple fronts.

As Trump pulled American forces from Syria, some were were bid farewell with rocks and fruit thrown by Syrian Kurds.

Critics say the pullout leaves the Kurds, who were America's allies in the fight against ISIS, at the mercy of a Turkish military assault.

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But Trump dismissed that criticism.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"But we never agreed to protect the Kurds. We fought with them for three-and-a-half, four years. We never agreed to protect the Kurds for the rest of their lives."

The president also decried the impeachment inquiry in Congress over his efforts to pressure Ukraine to dig up dirt on his potential 2020 election rivals, an inquiry stemming from a whistleblower report.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"The whistleblower gave a false account. Now you have to say, well, "do we have to protect somebody that gave a false account?" You know, these whistleblowers, they have them like they're angels."

The whistleblower account was largely confirmed by a White House summary of Trump's conversation with Ukraine's president. Trump also griped about his abortive move to use his Florida golf course to host next year's G7 summit for world leaders.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"It would have been great, but the Democrats went crazy. Even though I would have done it free!"

The White House last week announced that Trump's Miami Doral resort would host the event, but Democrats and government watchdogs erupted at what they said appeared to be a clear case of self-dealing.

Trump reversed the decision over the weekend. But he wasn't happy about it.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"I don't think it'll be as exciting. I don't think it'll be as good."

Trump dismissed what he called "this phony emoluments clause," a section of the U.S. Constitution that prevents the president from profiting off the office.