President Trump visited American military forces in Iraq on Wednesday, a surprise trip and the first visit to troops stationed abroad in a combat zone by a commander in chief who has made withdrawing the United States from foreign wars a signature issue.
Mr Trump landed at 7.16 pm local time at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq, accompanied by his wife Melania Trump, an AFP correspondent said.
The president spoke to troops and met with military leaders.
Mr Trump was expected to make two stops on his post-Christmas trip, delivering a holiday message to the more than 5,000 American forces stationed in the country.
President Donald Trump kisses first lady Melania Trump during a hanger rally at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Source: AP
“President Trump and the First Lady travelled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success, and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House spokeswoman, said in a tweet.
Visiting troops abroad is a cherished tradition for presidents. President George W Bush served Thanksgiving turkey to the soldiers in Baghdad in 2003, in the early days of the Iraq War.
President Barack Obama flew to Baghdad in April 2009, four months after his inauguration, winning cheers when he told the troops it was time for the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own country.
But nearly two years into his presidency, Mr Trump had yet to visit any troops abroad, drawing criticism from various corners.
After he canceled a rainy-day visit to an American cemetery outside of Paris last month during a World War I battlefield commemoration, he told Chris Wallace, the Fox News anchor, that he had not visited troops abroad because of “an unbelievably busy schedule.”
US President Donald Trump addresses troops at a hanger rally at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Source: AAP
But apart from the photo ops alongside uniformed military members, Mr Trump used the Iraq trip to further explain his decision to end the Syria deployment and cut troops in Afghanistan.
The policy changes, defended by Mr Trump as an exit from wars where the United States no longer needs to be expending lives and money, have sparked alarm among US allies.
However, the move has come under fire from international allies such as France and even elements within his own Republican party.
But Mr Trump stressed during his brief stop at Al-Asad Air Base that the United States has been fighting other countries' battles for them for too long.
The president declared that "the United States cannot continue to be the policeman of the world."
US President Donald Trump takes a photo as he greets members of the US military. Source: Getty Images
"You can't have any more time. You've had enough time," he said he had told his generals.
"It's not fair when the burden is all on us," he said.
"We don't want to be taken advantage of any more by countries that use us and use our incredible military to protect them. They don't pay for it and they're going to have to.
"We are spread out all over the world. We are in countries most people haven't even heard about. Frankly, it's ridiculous," he added.
- with The New York Times
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