President Trump and the First Lady traveled to Iraq late on Christmas night to visit with our troops and Senior Military leadership to thank them for their service, their success,  and their sacrifice and to wish them a Merry Christmas. pic.twitter.com/s2hntnRwpw

— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 26, 2018

President Donald Trump pays unannounced visit to US troops in Iraq | DW |

The visit to the Al-Asad Airbase west of the capital, Baghdad, comes just a week after Trump unsettled his military advisers and international allies, including in Iraq, by announcing that he would withdraw US troops from neighboring Syria, where they have also been helping in the fight against extremist militants.

It was the first visit Trump has paid to troops in a troubled region, and he has previously faced criticism on that score.

○ Trump makes unannounced visit to US troops in Iraq | The Guardian |
○ President Trump and First Lady make surprise trip to Iraq to visit troops | CNBC |

'Sapere aude'