President Donald Trump said "I do not see a role in Libya" because "the United States has right now enough roles."
"We are in a role everywhere, so I do not see that," Trump said Thursday in response to a reporter's question at a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni. "I do see a role in getting rid of ISIS.
"We are being very effective in that regard," he added. "We are doing a job with respect to ISIS that has not been done anywhere near the numbers that we're producing right now.
"It is a very effective force we have. We have no choice.
"It is a horrible thing to say, but we have no choice," Trump said.
Italy continues to remain under threat of the Islamic State in Libya, its immediate neighbor across the Mediterranean Sea, and the ensuing migration crisis.
Nearly 8,500 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean and brought to Italy over the three days of the Easter holiday, according to news reports.
Last year, U.S.-led air power drove ISIS from its safe haven in Sirte and into Libya's southern desert.
"We are effectively ridding the world of ISIS," Trump said. "I see that as a primary role — and that's what we're going to do, whether it is in Iraq, or in Libya, or anywhere else.
"That role will come to an end at a certain point — and we'll be able to go back home and rebuild our country, which is what I want to do."