News

Read The Transcript Of Trump's Statement On Syria

Mark Wilson/Getty Images News/Getty Images

On Thursday after the United States launched dozens of tomahawk missiles at Syria, President Trump released a statement and the transcript to address both the international community and America. Though the United States has remained largely uninvolved in the incredibly complicated conflict in Syria, Thursday marked a turning point in the Trump administration's reaction to the violence abroad.

According to The New York Times, 59 missiles hit Syria's Al Shayrat airfield, from which the aircrafts carrying the deadly nerve agent sarin were launched on Tuesdsay. The gas attack, which killed dozens of civilians, including children, in northern Syria, sparked international outrage. From that point forward, the Trump administration began addressing the situation with increasing sternness and immediacy. The day prior to the airstrikes, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley addressed an audience at the U.N. Security Council, saying, "When the United Nations consistently fails in its duty to act collectively, there are times in the life of states that we are compelled to take our own action."

Haley also condemned Russia's unflinching support for the Assad regime, even after the chemical attack. Now, it looks as though the United States decided to take matters into its own hands. In fact, Trump ordered the missile launch without congressional approval, making the military move seem that much more aggressive.

From Florida, the president said:

My fellow Americans, on Tuesday, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad launched a horrible chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians. Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women, and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror.

Tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the use of deadly chemical weapons. There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the chemical weapons convention, and ignored the urging of the UN Security Council. Years of previous attempts at changing Assad's behavior have all failed and failed very dramatically. As a result, the refugee crisis continues to deepen and the region continues to destabilize, threatening the United States and its allies.

Tonight I call on all civilized nations to join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types. We ask for God's wisdom as we face the challenge of our very troubled world. We pray for the lives of the wounded, and for the souls of those who have passed. And we hope that as long as America stands for justice and peace and harmony, we'll in the end prevail. Goodnight and God bless America and the entire world. Thank you.

In the upcoming days, the president will be expected to answer a number of questions concerning the United States' relationship with Russia, who supports the Assad regime, and whether or not the nation will begin to accept more refugees.