Trump Credits ‘Tough Love’ for Cease-Fire Deal

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — President Donald Trump is crediting his threat of sanctions on Turkey as "tough love" that led the country to agree to a five-day cease-fire in its battle with Kurds in northern Syria.

Talking to reporters in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday, Trump said the Kurds are happy with the deal.

But the president's critics say he put the Kurdish forces in danger by announcing a U.S. troop withdrawal.

They say the deal, announced in Turkey by Vice President Mike Pence, essentially gives Turkey what it wanted to achieve from its incursion into Syria in the first place. After the Kurds move from the area, Turkey has committed to a permanent cease-fire but is under no obligation to withdraw its troops.

Trump says he's open to hosting the Turkish leader in Washington.