Spokeswoman says Trump still wants Syria exit

The White House says President Donald Trump still wants U.S. troops to exit Syria as soon as possible, after the French president said he persuaded Trump to stay in Syria and launch airstrikes as punishment for an alleged chemical-weapons attack.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Sunday night: “The U.S. mission has not changed — the President has been clear that he wants U.S. forces to come home as quickly as possible.”

She added that the U.S. still wants to “crush ISIS” and expects regional allies to help securing the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday on French television BFM and online site Mediapart that: “Ten days ago, President Trump wanted to withdraw from Syria. We convinced him to remain.”