White House And U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Are Denying Reports That Mattis Asked President Trump To Get Congress's Approval On Syria Strikes

Daily Mail: White House shoots down report Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Trump he should get Congress to vote before Syria airstrikes as 'categorically false'

* Mattis made the recommendation after Trump had already tweeted to 'get Ready Russia,' according to the New York Times
* Trump also wrote that the U.S. munitions would be 'smart'
* According to the report Mattis urged a congressional vote, which some lawmakers urged as a way to get buy-in, add to the weight of strikes
* White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called it 'completely false'
* Trump wanted to be seen as backing up his tweets
* The tweets followed what the U.S. said was the use of chemical weapons on civilians
* Mattis also warned that a major attack could provoke a war with Russia
* 58 per cent of Americans backed the strikes in a new poll
* The U.S. ultimately fired missiles at just three targets

The White House on Wednesday called a report that Secretary Mattis urged President Trump to get approval from Congress before ordering a strike on Syria 'categorically false.'

'Reports that Secretary Mattis urged the President to seek congressional approval before last week’s strikes in Syria are categorically false,' said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

'As Secretary Mattis explained to Congress in yesterday’s all-member briefs, the President appropriately ordered the strikes under his constitutional authorities,' she said, referencing a briefing Mattis provided to lawmakers.

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WNU Editor: The New York Times and their anonymous sources are sticking with their story.

More News On The White House And U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Denying Reports That Mattis Asked President Trump To Get Congress's Approval On Syria Strikes

White House, Mattis deny report he urged Trump to get Congress's approval on Syria strikes -- The Hill
Mattis disputes report he wanted Congress to approve Syria strike -- AFP
White House slams report that Mattis urged Trump to ask Congress to approve Syria strikes -- Washington Times