White House says it's 'outrageous' to suggest that Trump green lit Assad's chemical attack after McCain claim that he's the reason Syria's dictator felt 'emboldened'

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The White House said Monday that it was 'outrageous' for Sen. John McCain to suggest that President Trump shoulders any of the responsibility for Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's latest chemical attack.

McCain, the chairman of the Armed Services committee and a Republican like the president, said in a harsh Sunday statement that Trump had 'emboldened' Assad with his talk of a drawdown of American forces.

At the White House's daily press briefing, a reporter suggested that Trump essentially green lit the attack, pointing to McCain's response.

'Look we're still there. And I think that it is outrageous to say that the President of the United States green lit something as atrocious as the actions that have taken place,' press secretary Sarah Sanders rebuffed.

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The White House said Monday that Sen. John McCain was 'outrageous' to suggest that President Trump shoulders any of the responsibility for Syrian Dictator Bashar al-Assad's latest chemical attack

The Trump spokeswoman said the president had made himself 'very clear' to Assad in word and deed.

'The only individuals who played a part don't reside in this country,' she told another journalist. 'And I think we've made very clear who we think is responsible for these attacks. And to try to conflate that, and make this on any part, in blame on this president is absolutely ridiculous.' 

It was unclear on Monday if the gas attack had changed Trump's calculus on the timing of a troop withdraw. 

Asked if Trump now believes that it's OK for the U.S. to be the world's policeman when the act committed is as atrocious as the one in Syria, Sanders said, 'The president wants to bring our troops home after we complete the mission to eradicate ISIS in Syria. 

'At the same time, he wants to make sure Assad is deterred from chemical weapons attacks on innocent civilians,' she added, reading directly from a prepared statement on the topic. 'Signaling we want to remove our troops in no way degrades our ability to hold parties responsible.'

Trump indicated Monday that he was weighing another military strike against Syria in response to the weekend chemical attack timed to the anniversary of the U.S. assault last year on Assad's army.

He said in a Cabinet meeting that it was a 'heinous' attack that was 'atrocious' and 'barbaric' in nature.

'This is about humanity. We're talking about humanity, and it can’t be allowed to happen,' he stated.

President Donald Trump is weighing another military strike against Syria after a weekend chemical attack timed to the anniversary of the U.S. assault last year on dictator Bashar al-Assad's army

'I think that it is outrageous to say that the President of the United States green lit something as atrocious as the actions that have taken place,' press secretary Sarah Sanders rebuffed.

The U.S. president was to meet with senior military leaders later in the day. He said he would make a decision about Syria within 48 hours and 'probably by the end of today.'

The United Nations Security Council is also meeting to discuss the matter in New York. 

Yesterday, Trump warned the leaders of Syria, Iran and Russia there would be a 'big price to pay' for the gas attack that is said to have killed nearly 50 people. He also referred to Assad as an 'animal.'

At his Cabinet meeting, Trump again said, 'If it’s Russia, if it’s Syria, if it’s Iran, if it’s all of them together, we’ll figure it out.' 

'Everybody's gonna pay a price,' he said, including Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. 'He will, everybody will.' 

Russia has said there's no evidence that a chemical attack took place in the face of graphic images of civilians, some of whom were children, choking and foaming at the mouth. The country's Foreign Ministry called the episode a 'hoax.'

Syria has also denied allegations that it was behind the assault.

'They're saying they're not. But to me there's not much a doubt,' Trump told his Cabinet, 'but the generals will figure it out, probably over the next 24 hours.'

Trump said that 'nothing's off the table' when it comes to retaliation and he expects to make a decision 'very quickly' after consulting with his national security team.

'So we'll be looking at that barbaric act and studying what's going on,' he said. 

On Sunday President Trump (left) tweeted his condemnation of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad (right) calling him an animal

President Trump whacked Russia and Iran over the countries' support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

He also criticized President Obama for not taking Bashar al-Assad, as Obama had said a 'red line' for him would be if chemical weapons were used on the Syrian people

Sen. Lindsay Graham this morning said that Assad should be classified as a war criminal, and Trump ought to obliterate his air force.

'The world is watching the president, Iran is watching the president, Russia is watching the president and North Korea's watching the president,' the GOP lawmaker who has Trump's ear said. 'This president has a chance to do exactly the opposite of Obama: send a strong signal that there's a new sheriff in town and America's back.'  

Barack Obama infamously warned Assad that that the U.S. would intervene militarily if he crossed a 'red line' and unloaded his chemical weapons on civilians. He ultimately backed down from the threat and later cited the unresolved conflict in Syria as his greatest regret as he left office.

Trump now faces a similar decision, having warned Assad last year that the U.S. would not allow him to gas his own people unchecked.

On the anniversary of the United States' limited air strike for his last confirmed chemical weapons attack, Assad reportedly hit the rebel-held town of Douma in Syria's Eastern Ghouta late Saturday.

Trump hit out at his predecessor and Assad's allies in tweets on Sunday.

'If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In the Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago!' Trump said. 'Animal Assad would have been history!'

'Everybody's gonna pay a price,' Trump said Monday, including Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. 'He will, everybody will'

In his strongest condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin yet, Trump lashed out at the leader for his role in propping up Assad after the reports of another chemical attack.

'Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world,' Trump wrote. 'President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad.'  

U.S. officials said Sunday that President Trump was considering all of his options to counter Assad, a violent dictator who has the military support of Moscow and Tehran.

'I wouldn’t take anything off the table. These are horrible photos, we’re looking into the attack at this point,' Homeland Security advisor Tom Bossert told ABC's 'This Week.' 

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he could not 'comment on what our response will be.'

'But I expect to get an update later today from the national security team,' he said, 'and I assure you they will be reviewing with the president all different alternatives.'

On Monday morning Defense Secretary James Mattis said, 'I don't rule out anything right now.'

'The first thing we have to look at is why are chemical weapons still being used at all when Russia was the framework guarantor of removing all the chemical weapons,' he said, referring to a 2013 pact.

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham (right) said Monday morning that Bashar al-Assad should be classified as a war criminal, and Trump ought to obliterate his air force

An image grab taken from a video released by the Syrian Civil Defense in Douma shows an unidentified volunteer holding an oxygen mask over a child's face at a hospital following a reported chemical attack on the rebel-held town on April 8, 2018

A year ago, on April 7, the U.S. attacked Assa'd forces with targeted and limited missile strikes

Days ago Trump claimed that 2,000 U.S. troops would be leaving Syria hastily and that the country that's mired in a civil war would be someone else's problem 'very soon.' The White House backed away that position last week as it was peppered to make an announcement.

After the weekend chemical attack, lawmakers from both parties were urging Trump not to immediately vacate Syria. Top GOP legislators were explicitly demanding new military action.

'The President responded decisively when Assad used chemical weapons last year. He should do so again, and demonstrate that Assad will pay a price for his war crimes,' McCain said.

McCain tore into Trump in the statement or sending mixed signals on Syria that he said 'emboldened' Assad and his allies. 

'President Trump last week signaled to the world that the United States would prematurely withdraw from Syria. 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,' McCain charged.

'Initial accounts show dozens of innocent civilians, including children, have been targeted by this vicious bombardment designed to burn and choke the human body and leave victims writhing in unspeakable pain.'

McCain said Assad's brutal regime had killed more than half a million of its people and turned another 11 million into refugees.

'President Trump was quick to call out Assad today, along with the Russian and Iranian governments, on Twitter,' he said. 'The question now is whether he will do anything about it.'

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds also advised Trump to 'act decisively' on Sunday, telling Meet the Press host Chuck Todd that he also believes the president needs to follow through on the 'red line' he set for chemical weapons use in Syria last year.

'And he's got to send a message once again that what he said he meant,' the South Dakota legislator said. 'I think he will hold not just Syria, but I think he will make it very clear that he believes that Russia is also responsible.' 

Graham on Sunday called it a 'defining moment' in Trump's presidency that would have global repercussions. 

'We had a one-and-done missile attack. So Assad is at it again. They see us, our resolve, breaking. They see our determination to stay in Syria waning. And it's no accident they used chemical weapons,' he said.

His advice to Trump was to train Syrians to fight government forces and create safe zones inside the country. 

Commenting on Trump's desire to withdraw American forces from Syria, Graham said that would be a 'complete utter disaster to leave before the fight is done.'

He argued that a pull-out in Syria is likely to set off a similar chain of events as the drawdown in Iraq and eventually gave the terrorist group ISIS the opportunity to rise up and wreak mass havoc.

The White House said last week that the United States' mission in Syria is coming to a 'rapid end' in a statement that provided no definitive timeline for a withdraw. 

Bossert, the Homeland Security adviser, said Sunday on ABC that the administration's position is that 'we need regional partnership increased and we need U.S. presence decreased.'

'It is time to move that pendulum back in a way that brings regional partners and others with equities in these matters all around the globe into putting their resources and their treasure and their boys and girls on the line, and not just American troops,' he said.

Trump yesterday to French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi about the attack.

A readout of the calls said Trump told Macron 'the Assad regime must be held accountable for its continued human rights abuses.'

The U.S. along with France and other UN Security Council members were meeting on Monday to discuss next steps. 

In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said: 'The Security Council has to come together and demand immediate access for first responders, support an independent investigation into what happened, and hold accountable those responsible for this atrocious act.'

Russia has separately called on the the 15-nation Security Council to discuss 'international threats to peace and security' at the emergency meeting.

The U.S. France, Britain, Sweden, Poland, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Peru and Ivory Coast demanded a meeting to talk about Syria, Reuters reported. 

Medical relief organizations said Sunday that 49 people had died. That number, produced by the Syrian American Medical Society and the civil defense service in the rebel-held territories, remains unconfirmed by the U.S. and other officials. Other counts put the death toll at 70 people.