White House: Criticism of Trump’s Syria stance ‘outrageous’

The White House on Monday pushed back against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who accused President Trump of emboldening Syrian President Bashar Assad by signaling he wants to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.

McCain’s criticism came amid allegations that pro-Assad forces carried out a chemical weapons attack that killed roughly 40 people. 

{mosads}“It is outrageous to say the president of the United States green-lit something as atrocious as the [chemical attack],” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. 

The comments come as Trump is considering a military response to the chemical strike, which drew international condemnation. 

But some Trump critics, including McCain, have said the president has not done enough to deter Assad.

“President Trump last week signaled to the world that the United States would prematurely withdraw from Syria,” McCain said Sunday in a statement. “Bashar Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers have heard him, and emboldened by American inaction, Assad has reportedly launched another chemical attack against innocent men, women and children.”

The president broke with his military advisers last week when he called for a troop pullout from Syria. 

“I want to get out, I want to bring our troops back home,” Trump said last Tuesday. 

The White House has not yet set a timeline for withdrawal for U.S. troops, who are fighting ISIS forces in Syria.