President Donald Trump on Wednesday called the chemical attack in Syria "an affront to humanity" that "cannot be tolerated."
During his opening remarks in the Rose Garden with Jordan King Abdullah II, Trump condemned the Assad regime in Syria.
"Yesterday, chemical attack, a chemical attack that was so horrific in Syria against innocent people, including women, small children, and even beautiful little babies, their deaths was an affront to humanity," Trump said. "These heinous actions by the Assad regime cannot be tolerated. The United States stands with our allies, across the globe, to condemn this horrific attack."
Trump said the chemical attack "crossed a lot of lines for me" when asked if it crossed a red line, hearkening to a phrase made by former President Barack Obama.
"It crossed a lot of lines for me. When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies, with a chemical gas that is so lethal, people were shocked to hear what gas it was, that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines," Trump said.
Trump again criticized the Obama administration for not taking care of the problem, but was clear that he has now assumed the mantle.
"I now have responsibility and I will have that responsibility and carry it very proudly, I will tell you that. It is now my responsibility. It was a great opportunity missed," Trump said.
King Abdullah also noted the failed approach of years past.
"This has been ongoing for seven years now. Has ascended into proxy wars from different parties with dubious agendas," the king said. "But at the end of the day, as you pointed out, Mr. President, it's the civilians, women and children, paying the heaviest price. This is happening on our watch as well as the global community. And the threshold of immunity that is being crossed every day is something that I know the president will not allow to happen, wherever it may be. And I fully support and endorse the president in this issue."