Donald Trump says Saddam Hussein was 'very good' at killing terrorists
Mr Trump was speaking about the destabilisation in the Middle East
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Donald Trump has criticised Barack Obama for pulling US troops out of Iraq too quickly and claimed that Iran had taken control of the world’s second biggest oil reserves.
Speaking in Ohio ahead of primary elections in five states on Tuesday, Mr Trump claimed that he had always been opposed to the US’s 2003 invasion of Iraq. He said he had warned it would destabilise the Middle East and that the rise of Isis was proof of that.
“Saddam Hussein was not a good person. Who cares,” Mr Trump said, speaking in a private hangar at the city’s airfield.
“He was very good at killing terrorists. Now, Iraq is the Harvard for terrorism.”
Mr Trump, who was introduced to the crowd of around 1,500 by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, said that Iran had stepped into the vacuum created by the withdrawal of most US combat troops.
“Iran is taking over Iraq. They’re taking over the second largest oil reserves in the world,” he said.
“I said ‘take the oil’ and they said ‘you can’t do that - it’s a sovereign country’. Sovereign country? These were corrupt people.
“Isis turned out to be a lot smarter than the people we backed.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments