President Trump said Monday his administration would make a decision within hours about how the U.S. should respond to the Syrian government’s decision over the weekend to launch a chemical weapons attack on civilians.
“We’re going to make a decision tonight or shortly thereafter,” Trump told reporters at the White House just before a meeting with senior military leaders. “We can’t let that happen in our world, especially when we’re able to — because of the power of the United States — we’re able to stop it.”
Syrian President Bashar Assad allegedly launched a chemical weapons attack on his people over the weekend that left dozens of Syrians dead or injured. Assad’s government is reportedly blocking medical assistance from the area.
Trump highlighted his new national security adviser, John Bolton, who started work in the West Wing earlier Monday.
“I think he’s going to be a fantastic representative of our team,” Trump said of Bolton.
Following a previous chemical weapons attack in April 2017, Trump launched a retaliatory missile strike against a Syrian air base.
The president earlier Monday warned Syrian, Russian, and Iranian leaders that they would “pay a price” if they were found to have been involved in the latest chemical weapons attack.
