{"id":17897,"date":"2018-04-15T14:46:02","date_gmt":"2018-04-15T14:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/04\/15\/in-run-up-to-missile-strike-an-orderly-chaotic-white-house\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:46:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:46:32","slug":"in-run-up-to-missile-strike-an-orderly-chaotic-white-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/15\/in-run-up-to-missile-strike-an-orderly-chaotic-white-house\/","title":{"rendered":"In run-up to missile strike, an orderly, chaotic White House"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-smg-jwplayer-video\"><atype-video-jwplayer nostick=\"true\" playlisturl=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/playlists\/fCzRqMW8?tags=e039656b-cfde-404e-a909-0ca58c976eae\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/video-poster-e039656b-cfde-404e-a909-0ca58c976eae.jpg\" aspectratio=\"16 \/ 9\" mute autostart=\"false\"><\/atype-video-jwplayer><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">USS John Warner (SSN 785) launches Tomahawk missiles from the Mediterranean Sea on April 14, 2018, as part of a multi-national strike operation against Syria.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 For the second time in his presidency, President Donald Trump stared, horrified at pictures of children killed in a chemical attack in Syria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And for the second time in his presidency, those visceral images helped propel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2018\/04\/14\/retaliatory-strikes-on-syria-underway\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">Trump toward military strikes <\/a>in a country he sees as a trap for the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/15\/trump-defends-mission-accomplished-after-strike-on-syria\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18104310108627.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US to hit Russia with new sanctions for aiding Syria\u2019s Assad<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his use of the phrase \u201cMission Accomplished\u201d to describe a U.S.-led missile attack on Syria\u2019s chemical weapons program, even as his aides stressed continuing U.S. troop involvement and plans for new economic sanctions against Russia for enabling the government of Bashar Assad.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At times, the lead-up to Friday\u2019s strikes was orderly \u2014 a traditional decision-making process for an unconventional president. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/2018\/04\/09\/trump-promises-decision-on-us-response-after-suspected-chemical-weapons-attack-in-syria\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">He sought the input of national security advisers<\/a> and convened Situation Room meetings. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/10\/trump-threatens-syria-strike-cancels-summit-travel\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">He consulted with allies<\/a>, who shared his anger at the photos emerging from Syria of children and adults apparently killed or sickened by poisonous gases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But at other moments, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/11\/trump-says-missiles-coming-against-syria-new-and-smart\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">the chaotic nature of Trump\u2019s presidency<\/a> broke through. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/12\/trump-syria-attack-very-soon-or-not-so-soon-at-all\/\" title=\"\" class=\"\" target=\"_blank\">He hinted at his plans in bellicose and at times confusing tweets<\/a>. And he seethed over the legal threats springing up around him, including a raid on his longtime lawyer\u2019s home and office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"664\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-945979114.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-945979114.jpg.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-945979114.jpg.jpg?resize=300,195 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-945979114.jpg.jpg?resize=768,498 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump addresses the nation on the situation in Syria on April 13, 2018, at the White House in Washington. (Mandel Ngan\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through it all, U.S. and Western officials said it was clear Trump intended to take military action. Discussions with France and Britain were focused not on whether to strike, but how to do so in a way that went beyond \u201cpunishing\u201d the Assad regime for the attack and instead would degrade its ability to use chemical weapons in the future, according to two Western diplomats with knowledge of the discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diplomats and U.S. officials insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the private discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump attended multiple briefings per day, according to officials, and sat in on most high-level meetings in the Situation Room. Advising Trump on Syria was John Bolton, the newly installed national security adviser with a militaristic and hawkish reputation, and Defense Secretary James Mattis, who sought to ensure that military action was linked to a broader strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At a Cabinet meeting Monday, Trump condemned the \u201catrocious attack,\u201d promising speedy action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"676\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18104319496197.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-38466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18104319496197.jpg.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18104319496197.jpg.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18104319496197.jpg.jpg?resize=768,507 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Britain&#8217;s Prime Minister Theresa May gestures during a press conference in 10 Downing Street, London, Saturday, April 14, 2018. British Prime Minister Theresa May says the need to act quickly and protect \u201coperational security\u201d led her to strike Syria without a prior vote in Parliament. (Simon Dawson\/Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, Trump spoke to both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May. Officials from all three countries huddled in Washington as the allies tried to determine who would participate and what a potential strike would look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Trump still had no firm commitment that the allies would join him. While all three Western countries believed chemical weapons had been used, international inspectors had not reached the site of the attack and it was unclear how much evidence their governments could put forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As negotiations over the Syria response continued, Trump was pummeled by the surprise raid of his personal attorney Michael Cohen\u2019s home and office and the new book from fired FBI director James Comey. He was particularly incensed by the raid, which was prompted in part by a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, whose investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election shadows the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the deliberations dragged on, Trump vented on Twitter. He threw the process into confusion Wednesday when he tweeted at Russia to \u201cGet ready\u201d because missiles \u201cwill be coming, nice and new and \u2018smart!\u2019\u201d After sustaining criticism for appearing to reveal his strategy, Trump tweeted the following day that he had not signaled the timing of an attack, adding: \u201cCould be very soon or not so soon at all!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By Thursday, Trump made the final decision to authorize the strike. Officials said the plan to hit three targets in Syria was aimed at avoiding \u201ccollateral damage,\u201d including Russian assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked why the president had acted now, given the Assad government is alleged to have used chemical gas at least 50 times, administration officials said they believed there was \u201cincontrovertible evidence\u201d that chemical weapons had been deployed. Much of the evidence comes from witness testimony, as well as video and photos shot by aid workers, victims of the attacks and unspecified additional intelligence about barrel bombs and chlorine canisters found in the aftermath.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/15\/western-airstrikes-unlikely-to-impact-assads-war-machine\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP18104205339254.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Western airstrikes unlikely to impact Assad\u2019s war machine<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Western airstrikes targeting suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities might have rained down punishment from the sky, but they will not fundamentally degrade a war machine whose main bases, weaponry and personnel remain in place.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Officials said Trump was also frustrated that economic, diplomatic and political efforts aimed at convincing Assad that using chemical weapons was not in his interest had failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a full day after Trump made his decision, the administration managed to keep its intentions largely under wraps. The tweets stopped and White House officials suggested to journalists that Trump might spend Friday night dining at his hotel in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-smg-jwplayer-video\"><atype-video-jwplayer nostick=\"true\" playlisturl=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/playlists\/fCzRqMW8?tags=6aed61fa-1eea-4373-a2ca-4cae9b913e26\" poster=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/video-poster-6aed61fa-1eea-4373-a2ca-4cae9b913e26.jpg\" aspectratio=\"16 \/ 9\" mute autostart=\"false\"><\/atype-video-jwplayer><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump speaks from the White House, and explains why he ordered strikes against Syria on April 13th, 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But at 9:01:30 p.m. Friday, Trump delivered a televised address to the nation announcing the strikes were underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the missiles rained down, one administration official explained that, over the course of this week, the president had tweeted his intention to the American people. Now, they said, his orders were being carried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By Saturday morning, Trump celebrated a \u201cperfectly executed strike.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMission Accomplished!\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Associated Press writer Josh Lederman contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the second time in his presidency, President Donald Trump stared, horrified at pictures of children killed in a chemical attack in Syria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":8,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[100,8,12,25,68],"tags":[],"coauthors":[2899,2017],"class_list":["post-17897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"SK4XHYVOGNE6BC57GAQX7HFC6I","arc_canonical_url":"\/flashpoints\/2018\/04\/15\/in-run-up-to-missile-strike-an-orderly-chaotic-white-house\/","remove_feature_photo":true,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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