Trump’s dramatic U-turn on air strikes in Syria ‘was sparked by daughter Ivanka’s heartbreak after gas attack’
DONALD Trump's dramatic U-turn on taking military action in Syria was sparked by the heartbreak of his daughter Ivanka, it has been claimed.
The US President, who had previously been opposed to the US launching airstrikes on Syria, announced that the gas attack could not be tolerated and ordered the 59-missile bombing of an airbase involved in the fatal chemical assault.
Trump's stance hardened after his 35-year-old daughter condemned the attack on Wednesday morning, with Ivanka writing that she was "heartbroken and outraged by the images coming out of Syria following the atrocious chemical attack yesterday".
Hours later, Trump himself spoke out, saying: "Yesterday's chemical attack against innocent people - their deaths were an affront to humanity.
"These heinous actions by the Assad regime cannot be tolerated."
He added that the attack, which killed dozens, including children, was "unacceptable", saying "it’s already happened that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much."
Ivanka later tweeted: "The times we are living in call for difficult decisions - Proud of my father for refusing to accept these horrendous crimes against humanity".
The Mirror reported that a source close to the first family said: "Increasingly, Ivanka is having more and more influence over her father. She often counsels her father and was very clear that action needed to be taken against Assad in some form."
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The source added: "Ivanka has her own mind. While her dad is driven by his ego and political point-scoring, Ivanka could not be more opposite.
"She has genuine concerns for others and wants to do what is right. As she was feeding her kids on Wednesday morning, she thought enough was enough and tweeted her thoughts for everyone to see."
Before becoming President, Trump had said that an attack on Syria would bring "nothing but trouble for the US".
He also criticised his predecessor Barack Obama for considering air strikes in Syria, saying that it would make the US look "very bad!"
The US conducted a 59-missile blitz on the Shayrat airfield after the chemical gas attack, damaging buildings and claiming the lives of several people.
Trump has since been praised by world leaders for the bombing, which was one of the most intense to be launched by the US since 2003.
His actions earned him the wrath of Russia, with the country's leaders warning that it had damaged relations between the two world powers.
Syrian forces earlier accused the US of being a “partner of ISIS” describing the bombing as an act of “blatant aggression” - while rebels welcomed the move but said the attack was "not enough".
The SANA news agency report claimed the civilians died in villages near the airbase - adding more had been wounded and homes had been badly damaged.
The allegations could not be independently verified and Syrian state media has been known to use propaganda in its news coverage to discredit opponents.
Syrian military officials earlier reported the missiles killed at least seven people and injured nine others - but the death toll remains unclear at this stage.
But Donald Trump's administration has warned it will strike again, with the US ambassador Nikki Haley saying they "were fully justified" in retaliating.