The White House on Thursday rejected Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S.-backed Mosul, Iraq, offensive is a failure, and said not enough time has passed to render a judgment yet.
Trump late Sunday took to Twitter to denounce the effort to oust the Islamic State from the second-largest city in Iraq as politically timed to help Hillary Clinton win the presidential contest, and said it was already a “total disaster.”
“The attack on Mosul is turning out to be a total disaster,” Trump tweeted. “We gave them months of notice. U.S. is looking so dumb. VOTE TRUMP and WIN AGAIN!”
But the top White House spokesman responded Monday that during such an important military offensive as the one taking place in Mosul, where U.S. troops are in a supportive role, the least those service members should expect is “unconditional and unwavering support.”
“It’s far too early to reach that kind of conclusion,” presidential press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters, referring to Trump’s criticism that the effort is a “total failure.”
Obama has confidence the battle will be successful, he added.
