GOP senator 'troubled' by Trump's promise to cease military exercises with South Korea

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) said today he is unsettled by President Trump's promise to cease military exercises with South Korea as a concession to North Korea.

"I am troubled by the military cooperation comments made today," Perdue, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Appropriations committees, told reporters at a breakfast in Washington.

Trump told reporters in Singapore that the U.S. military would be "stopping the war games" with South Korea, citing the "tremendous amount of money" it would save the federal government.

"Plus, I think it's very provocative," the president said.

Perdue, meanwhile, said that Trump's words should not be taken at face value, adding that lawmakers should wait until they hear from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"The idea that the president has said this might be on the table doesn't mean that it's a signed part of any agreement," Perdue said. "He's totally capable of backing up. I wouldn't be surprised if it weren't part of the final deal, frankly, if they don't get the right reaction from North Korea."

Trump also reiterated his desire to "bring home" the 32,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in South Korea.

"At some point, I have to be honest -- and I used to say this during my campaign, as you know, probably, better than most -- I want to get our soldiers out," he said. "I want to bring our soldiers back home. We have, right now, 32,000 soldiers in South Korea, and I’d like to be able to bring them back home.  But that’s not part of the equation right now. At some point, I hope it will be, but not right now."

Perdue said the Senate, which is negotiating its versions of the fiscal year 2019 defense authorization and appropriations bills, might use legislative tactics to ensure continued military cooperation with South Korea.

He also said that any deal with North Korea should be considered a treaty that needs to be ratified by Congress.

"I have never agreed with 100 percent of what this president says off the cuff like that," Perdue said. "I personally think that our commitment to South Korea cannot be wavering or even questioned at this point in time."