President Trump praised Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar in a phone call this week, the White House revealed Friday, as Haftar continued an offensive to capture Libya’s capital and largest city, Tripoli, from the country’s U.S.-backed government.

Trump’s complimentary conversation, which took place Monday, suggests a pivot in his administration’s stance toward Haftar after the strongman ignored U.S. requests for a cease-fire.