Trump condemns Syria attack but won’t telegraph US response
WASHINGTON — His expression grave and his words emphatic, President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday the deadly chemical attack in Syria had crossed “many, many lines” and abruptly changed his views of Syrian President Bashar Assad. But he refused to say what the U.S. might do in response.
Trump issued no ultimatums in comments that were being scoured by world leaders for signs of how the new president would react to a global crisis. In a rare reversal of roles, Trump was more reserved than many of his top advisers — including his U.N. envoy, who revived the hard-hitting rhetoric of Trump’s political campaign and strongly hinted some U.S. action was coming.
Trump himself was noncommittal.
“I’m not saying I’m doing anything one way or another, but I’m certainly not going to be telling you,” he told reporters.