Donald Trump Says He Did Not ‘Specifically’ Authorize Niger Mission

President Donald Trump said he did not specifically authorize the mission in Niger that led to the deaths of four American special forces soldiers.

When reporters asked if he personally authorized the mission Trump replied, “No, I didn’t. Not specifically.”

Referring to the attack in Niger, Trump confirmed that he was just learning about the details like the rest of America.

“I’ve been seeing it just like you’ve been seeing it,” he said.

He pivoted to praising his “great generals” in charge of fighting terrorism.

Trump confirmed that he gave them broad authority to win the war against ISIS, including in Africa.

“I gave them authority to do what’s right so that we win,” he said. “I want to win, and we’re going to win, and we’re beating ISIS very badly.”

Trump said he had received reports on the war against ISIS, and he was please that the U.S. Military had “decimated” the terrorist group.

“It’s a tough business. It’s a tough war, but we are winning it,” he concluded.

The president also confirmed that officials were currently investigating the attack.

“We’re going to look at it,” he promised.

The White House repeatedly refers questions about the mission in Niger to the Department of Defense, where an investigation is underway to find out exactly what happened.

Trump’s National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster revealed that the operation was based on “approved authorities” although he admitted that they were under “constant revision.”

He cautioned that the details of the attack are likely to change as the investigation continues.

“When something like this happens, obviously the report does come to us, and as we say in the military — the first report is always wrong,” McMaster said at a forum on Friday.