The White House says the U.S. response to suspected chemical attacks by the Syrian government was "justified and proportional."
Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday that the attacks on a Syrian air base late Thursday were the result of a "72-hour evolution."
Dozens of innocent people were killed in the suspected chemical attack Tuesday. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday that the U.S. feels confident Syrian President Bashar Assad's government was behind the attack and that sarin gas was apparently used.
Spicer says Trump was offered a variety of options of a U.S. response from his Cabinet and members of his national security team. He gave the green light on the missile strike ahead of dinner with China's President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng).
Spicer says Trump told Xi about the attack during their dinner Thursday night.
