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Syria Attack Launched Without Congressional Authorization

HeadlineApr 07, 2017

The attacks came without a declaration of war or any other form of authorization from Congress. California Democratic Congressmember Barbara Lee tweeted, “This is an act of war. Congress needs to come back into session & hold a debate. Anything less is an abdication of our responsibility.” And Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky tweeted, “The President needs Congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution.” On Thursday evening, Trump did not respond to a reporter’s questions about whether he’d seek congressional approval for the attack.

Reporter: “Mr. President, do you still believe you need military—congressional authorization for military action in Syria?”

President Donald Trump: “Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much.”

In 2013, Trump repeatedly tweeted comments blasting President Obama’s push for an assault on Syria over a chemical weapons attack, writing, “The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not!”

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