Trump says US is trying to protect the Kurds in Syria

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the United States is trying to protect the Kurds, when asked by a reporter about protecting Kurdish rights in Syria.

"I like the Kurds, but just so you understand, the Kurds were paid tremendous amounts of money, were given oil and other things. So they were doing it for themselves, more so than they were doing for us," Trump told reporters at the White House, "But we get along with the Kurds, and we are trying to protect the Kurds."