Tweets Obama 'must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria' - position he'd reverse as president
After a sarin gas attack in Damascus, Trump tweeted multiple times opposing U.S. military intervention in Syria and demanding Obama get Congressional approval. He tweeted 'The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not!' and 'Stay out of Syria, we don't have the leadership to win wars or even strategize.' He also warned 'Be prepared, there is a small chance that our horrendous leadership could unknowingly lead us into World War III.' Obama did seek Congressional approval but faced opposition and ultimately pursued diplomacy. Trump's position completely reversed when he became president - he launched Syria strikes in 2017 without Congressional approval, exposing his criticism of Obama as partisan rather than principled.
“The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not!” — Tweet, August 30, 2013
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryTrump's demand for Congressional approval of Syria strikes was purely tactical criticism of Obama, as he later launched strikes without Congressional approval as president.
The tweets demonstrated Trump's pattern of taking whatever position opposed Obama, regardless of consistency or principle.
Trump's claim the U.S. lacked 'leadership to win wars' foreshadowed his 2016 campaign theme while ignoring that Obama was seeking diplomatic solutions.
The World War III warning exemplified Trump's hyperbolic doom-saying about Democratic presidents that he'd employ throughout Obama's tenure and later against Biden.