Launches 59 Tomahawk missiles at Syria without congressional authorization

Trump ordered 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired at a Syrian airbase in retaliation for Assad's chemical weapons attack on civilians. While framed as a humanitarian response, Trump launched the strikes without congressional authorization, contradicting his 2013 tweets demanding Obama get congressional approval before any Syria action. The strikes had limited military impact but allowed Trump to appear decisive. Critics noted the hypocrisy of Trump's sudden concern for 'beautiful babies' killed by chemical weapons when he had just banned Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. The attack occurred while Trump was hosting China's president at Mar-a-Lago.

"Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the air base in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched." — Statement from Mar-a-Lago, April 6, 2017