Trump bravado gives way to solemn air strike speech
WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump strode directly, with purpose, to the podium.
“My fellow Americans,” he began, “a short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad.”
Sending American troops into harm’s way is by definition the most “presidential” act a commander-in-chief can take. Still, the solemn announcement, delivered in one of the nation’s most distinguished settings, was a notable moment of conformity for a president who has scoffed at the conventional.
The operation had been widely expected, the whole world seemingly anticipating action since the president’s Wednesday morning tweet that missiles “will be coming, nice and new and ‘smart!’”
But on Friday afternoon, nearly a week after the president had first promised a decision within 24 to 48 hours, the White House maintained that Trump had not yet settled on a course of action.
That did not quell the anticipation that had been building for days.
The likely window for an operation was well-known: nighttime in Syria, or the evening in Washington, seven hours behind.
The first inkling that something was up on came when the White House sent word to the cadre of reporters who continuously follow the president that they might be staying late Friday night. The early buzz: Trump would be making a foray to his nearby hotel for dinner.
Reporters were told to be prepared to move at 8:30 p.m. — destination unknown.
“The evil and the despicable attack left mothers and fathers, infants and children, thrashing in pain and gasping for air,” said the president, who had watched images of the horror play out on cable television.
“These are not the actions of a man, they are crimes of a monster,” he added.
While Trump’s decision drew criticism from some corners, his public address stood in stark contrast to the often haphazard, misspelled tweets and off-the-cuff statements that are so common in his presidency.
And his stern warning to Russia set aside — at least temporarily — Trump’s unwillingness to call out Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia,” Trump said, “must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or if it will join with civilized nations as a force for stability and peace.”