President Trump has released a statement on the chemical attack in Syria which killed over 100 people and injured hundreds others. The Syrian government has denied being behind the airstrikes that released the toxic gas, but multiple outlets have linked the chemical gases to the Assad regime. In his remarks, Trump condemned the attack and partly blamed his predecessor for the disaster.
Today’s chemical attack in Syria against innocent people, including women and children, is reprehensible and cannot be ignored by the civilized world. These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the past administration’s weakness and irresolution. President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a “red line” against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing. The United States stands with our allies across the globe to condemn this intolerable attack.
In his own statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also blamed Obama's weak foreign policy, while adding a few other culprits that bear responsibility for the Syrian tragedy. Namely, Russia and Iran.
While we continue to monitor the terrible situation, it is clear that this is how Bashar al-Assad operates: with brutal, unabashed barbarism. Those who defend and support him, including Russia and Iran, should have no illusions about Assad or his intentions. Anyone who uses chemical weapons to attack his own people shows a fundamental disregard for human decency and must be held accountable.
The situation demands a ceasefire, Tillerson said, and Russia and Iran must act.