The Note: The split on Syria strategy

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April 10, 2017

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The split on Syria strategy

The Big Story

Can he stay or should he go? The split between top Trump administration officials on the question of whether regime change is the policy of the United States in Syria is just one of the internal Trump administration disagreements dominating the aftermath of last week's attack. Put U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the Assad-must-go camp: "We've got to go and make sure that we actually see a leader that will protect his people." Cue Secretary of State Rex Tillerson: "We have to learn the lessons of the past and learn the lessons of what went wrong in Libya when you choose that pathway of regime change," he said on ABC News' "This Week." There's another, even more consequential split making itself evident – one between President Trump and, evidently, just about everyone in the top positions of his administration. That would have to do with Russia, where Tillerson is visiting this week, and of which he's made clear "some level of responsibility" resides for Assad's chemical weapons attack. Policies are lagging behind actions here, but they can't stay there for long.

The Sleeper Story

Welcome home, members of Congress. Since the last time you spent some quality time back in your districts, the legislative agenda fell apart, the president started threatening primary challenges against members of his own party, the Senate went nuclear and President Trump ordered major military force for the first time. Add that to special House elections this week in Kansas and next week in Georgia, and a real sense of politics in the Trump era is about to emerge. Trump has scrambled what it means to be a Republican, and Democrats are adjusting their party to respond to Trump. The feedback and storylines digested by members of both parties in this stretch could define the contours of Trump's political sway from here.

The Shiny Story

"Work this out," President Trump demanded of chief strategist Steve Bannon and chief of staff Reince Priebus late last week, while he was deliberating his response to Syria. "This" almost needs no explanation, since the infighting and staff drama have become embedded in basic understanding of the Trump era. His admonishment notwithstanding, the president seems to thrive on the existence of rival camps inside his White House. Staff shakeups and stern warnings will stand on their own so long as the president himself keeps that atmosphere alive. Complicating it all? The still-growing roles of the president's daughter and son-in-law, creating a power center whose principles cannot be fired. If Trump truly wanted to quiet the churn beneath the surface, he would have his ways. Bannon and Priebus can only do so much on their own.

TLDR

In an example of White House infighting, Trump administration officials are sending mixed signals on whether Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should remain in power in the wake of last week's attack on Syrian civilians and U.S. airstrikes in Syria.