Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson said on Friday that his “sources are better” than those of the Obama administration when it comes to whether China is involved in the Syria conflict.
Carson has claimed, based on his sources, that Chinese forces are operating in Syria. Asked on Thursday whether that is true, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the U.S. has no evidence or intelligence suggesting that the Chinese are involved in Syria.
Appearing in South Carolina on Friday, Carson was given the opportunity to explain himself further.
“Actually, we’ll be releasing some material on that before the weekend is over,” Carson said in response to a question from a reporter. “I have several sources that I’ve gotten material from. I’m surprised my sources are better than [the Obama administration’s].”
Carson’s campaign has since issued a clarification, saying the former neurosurgeon does not believe that China has deployed troops to the region, but instead that China is providing weapons and other equipment.
On Morning Joe Friday morning, co-host Mike Brzezinski called Carson’s foreign policy “frightening and detrimental.”
Watch the video above, via CNN.
UPDATE — 2:20 p.m. ET: White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest reacted with amazement to Carson’s comments at Friday’s press briefing, saying, “maybe it violates my job description as a spokesperson to be speechless, but I think in this case I am.”
[Image via screengrab]
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