Trump Says He Should Be 'Most Popular Hero in America'
The president sent a series of bombastic tweets hours after the resignation of the top diplomat in the fight against ISIS.

Joshua Roberts/Reuters
In a series of tweets Saturday night President Trump denied knowing the top Middle East diplomat Brett McGurk, and deemed himself the 'most popular hero in america' for pulling American troops out of Syria. McGurk, who was in charge of the coalition to fight ISIS which coordinates “all aspects of U.S. policy related to the ultimate destruction of ISIS,” according to his government bio, announced his early departure from his position on Friday. In an email to his staff McGurk said he “could not carry out these new instructions and maintain my integrity.” His announcement came one day after Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis made his own exit. In a separate tweet, the president, said, “I do not know,” McGurk and noted that he was appointed to the post by President Obama in 2015, adding “was supposed to leave in February but he just resigned prior to leaving. Grandstander? The Fake News is making such a big deal about this nothing event!” McGurk, who was appointed to a number of high level diplomatic posts by President George W. Bush, came to be an indispensable Iraq expert and was kept on by the Obama administration. He was one of the few Trump holdovers from the Obama administration.
Brett McGurk, who I do not know, was appointed by President Obama in 2015. Was supposed to leave in February but he just resigned prior to leaving. Grandstander? The Fake News is making such a big deal about this nothing event!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2018
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