Trump: Syria Missile Strikes In ‘Vital National Security Interest’ Of US (VIDEO)

President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday, April 6, 2017, after the U.S. fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria Thursday night in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical w... President Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., Thursday, April 6, 2017, after the U.S. fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria Thursday night in retaliation for this week's gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) MORE LESS
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After the United States launched missile strikes on a Syrian air base on Thursday night, President Donald Trump said that the retaliation to a chemical weapons attack was in the security interest of the United States.

“It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons. There can be no dispute that Syria used banned chemical weapons, violated its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, and ignored the urging of the U.N. Security Council,” Trump said Thursday night from his Florida resort Mar-A-Lago.

The President called on other countries to “join us in seeking to end the slaughter and bloodshed in Syria, and also to end terrorism of all kinds and all types.”

The U.S. ordered the strikes following a chemical weapons attack that U.S. officials believe was launched by the Syrian government.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Thursday night that the strikes do not indicate a policy change toward Syria.

“I would not in any way attempt to extrapolate that to a change in our policy or posture relative to our military activities in Syria today. There has been no change in that status,” he said. “I think it does demonstrate that President Trump is willing to act when governments and actors cross the line and cross the line on violating commitments they’ve made and cross the line in the most heinous of ways.”

Watch Trump’s remarks via USA Today:

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