"Animal Assad" crosses Trump's red line, again, one year later, gassing children

Trump blames Putin, Obama for 'Animal Assad,' tweets 'big price' after reports of Syrian chemical attack

President Donald Trump called out Russian President Vladimir Putin by name on Sunday for backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and warned of a "big price" after reports of a chemical weapons attack in Syria almost a year to the day since the US struck a Syrian air field after a previous attack.

"Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria," Trump tweeted. 

"Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price..."

He continued, "....to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!"

Trump's tweet naming Putin marks a rare rebuke by the President against the Russian leader. 

Trump also pinned blame for the situation on former US President Barack Obama's Syria policies.

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

. . . .

Speaking on ABC's "This Week" in an interview taped prior to the President's tweets, White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert said he was struck by the "timing" of the reported attack, around the anniversary of last year's missile strike. 

He said the President and his advisers had been discussing the strike and would not rule out another one.

"I wouldn't take anything off the table," he said.

. . . .

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins said in an interview Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that Trump "is going to have to reconsider his plan for an early withdrawal in light of what has happened."

She also said the US should consider another strike on Syria and called for increased economic pressure on Russia.

"Last time this happened, the President did a targeted attack to take out some of the facilities," Collins said. 

"That may be an option that we should consider now, but it is further reason why it is so important that the President ramp up the pressure and the sanctions on the Russian government, because without the support of Russia, I do not believe that Assad would still be in office."