The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:30 PM

President Trump Delivers Christmas Day Message To U.S. Troops Overseas

President Trump talked Sunday with top U.S. military leaders overseas, telling them and their troops in a Christmas Eve teleconference that Americans are “incredibly grateful” for them and their families’ service and sacrifice.

“We're fighting well and we're winning,” Trump said to the leaders at the start of the teleconference. “Wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas. … And most importantly, on behalf of American people, we’re incredibly grateful for you and your families, always under appreciated.”

Since the start of his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump has made the U.S. military a top priority, vowing to provide more funding for military operations and to take better care of veterans.

Trump on Friday in fact touted the fact that the temporary spending bill recently passed by Congress included $4 billion he wanted for missile defense programs.

The president was joined Sunday on the teleconference by leaders of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard -- including some helping U.S. partners in the fight against Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Islamic State terror group, in such countries as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

Among the leaders was Air Force Lt. Col. Paul Goossen, an Ohio resident and commander of the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squad in Qatar.