Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Monday that he supports Russia bombing Islamic State targets in Syria.
Trump sat down with NBC's "Today" anchor Matt Lauer for a town hall-style discussion in New Hampshire. When asked about his strategy to defeat the Islamic State, Trump said he "would build our military so strong and so good. I would make it so ... that no one is going to mess with us."
"If Russia wants to go into Syria and bomb the hell out of ISIS, I'm sort of OK with that," Trump said. "If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to go in and drop bombs on ISIS, I'm OK with it, but we have to do it too."
Russia has stepped up its military involvement in Syria in recent weeks. Putin, in a speech in front of the U.N. General Assembly, championed a policy of propping up the Syrian regime and ousting the Islamic State.
Putin then ramped up an air campaign in Syria that is ostensibly intended to target ISIS, but strikes have also hit rebel groups and killed scores of civilians.
Trump criticized Putin's attitude toward the U.S., but said that he thinks they would have a good relationship. If not, "I will find people who can."
He also said that he'd send any Syrian refugees coming to the U.S. back to Europe, telling Lauer that they "could be the greatest Trojan horse of all time."
"It's going to cost billions of dollars" to take in the large numbers of people that the Obama administration has promised, he said. "If that happens, I'm sending them back."
The Faces of Donald Trump
Raise The Roof!(01 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump speaks to several GOP women's group at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino April 28, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Meh(02 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump visits 'FOX and Friends' at FOX Studios on August 29, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
You're Fired!(03 of11)
Open Image ModalDonald Trump poses for photographs in his Trump Tower office on June 13, 2012, in New York.(Photo by Diane Bondareff/Invision/AP) (credit:AP)
Mwah!(04 of11)
Open Image ModalDonald Trump appears at a news conference after the 2012 Miss Universe Pageant at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on December 19, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ouch(05 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump speaks to several GOP women's group at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino April 28, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Not Amused(06 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump visits 'FOX and Friends' at FOX Studios on August 29, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Here's Lookin' At Ya!(07 of11)
Open Image ModalDonald Trump leaves an appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012 in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) (credit:AP)
Rawr(08 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 15, 2013. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
P-P-P-Poker Face(09 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump attends the 'Celebrity Apprentice All Stars' Season 13 Press Conference at Jack Studios on Oct. 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A Look Of Pain(10 of11)
Open Image ModalIn this photo released by the Scottish Parliament dated Wednesday April 25, 2012, Trump gives evidence to the Scottish Parliament's Economy Energy and Tourism Committee in Edinburgh, Scotland. (AP Photo/Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament) (credit:AP)
Yo!(11 of11)
Open Image ModalTrump speaks at the inauguration ceremony of the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower in Panama City, July 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco) (credit:AP)