Obama ignores Trump, will continue to empty Gitmo

By , Gabby Morrongiello

Published January 18, 2017

The Obama administration flatly rejected a warning from President-elect Trump to stop transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay, telling reporters on Tuesday that more inmates will be moved from the military prison before the current president leaves office.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest told members of the press corps to "expect ... additional transfers" before the end of President Obama's second term, noting that the current administration has long sought to close the controversial detention center in Cuba where 59 prisoners remain.

The announcement came hours after Obama's Republican successor tweeted his disapproval of numerous transfers that have already occurred and warned against resettling additional detainees outside of the United States.

"There should be no further releases from Gitmo," Trump said. "These are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back onto the battlefield."