The Note: Trump at War

US launched a military strike on Syria last night.

— -- TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS with ABC’s RICK KLEIN and VERONICA STRACQUALURSI

Day No. 78

TLDR: Moved by images of Syrian children left dead after a chemical weapons attack, President Trump ordered the launch of an airstrike against Syria last night. But what isn’t clear going forward is if there’s a larger strategy on Syria.

NOTABLES

--STRIKE ON SYRIA GETS MIXED REACTION FROM LAWMAKERS: Reaction from both sides of the aisle was swift following news that the United States had launched a military strike on an airbase in Syria. In a statement, Sens. John McCain, R-Arizona, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, praised President Donald Trump for taking action. "Unlike the previous administration, President Trump confronted a pivotal moment in Syria and took action. For that, he deserves the support of the American people," they said in part. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, tweeted, "While we all condemn the atrocities in Syria, the United States was not attacked." He continued: "The President needs Congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution." ABC's TARA FOWLER has more: http://abcn.ws/2o8UjmL

--HAPPENING TODAY - SENATE TO VOTE ON SUPREME COURT NOMINEE NEIL GORSUCH: The long, contentious battle to fill the vacancy on the nation's highest court, which has lasted over a year in Congress could end today when the Senate holds a vote on whether to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. With the exception of three, Democratic senators seemed poised to vote against Gorsuch’s confirmation. http://abcn.ws/2o4VlOO

THIS WEEK ON ‘THIS WEEK’: After House Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., stepped away from leading the committee’s Russia investigation, George Stephanopoulos goes one-on-one with House Intelligence Committee ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., exclusively on “This Week” Sunday.

SPEED READ with ABC’s ADAM KELSEY

WHAT TRUMP HAS SAID ABOUT SYRIA AND ASSAD. In the wake of chemical attacks in Syria that killed at least 86, including dozens of women and children, President Trump issued a swift condemnation, saying that the offensive "crossed a lot of lines for me." "When you kill innocent children, innocent babies, little babies, with a chemical gas that is so lethal — people were shocked to hear what gas it was — that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line, many, many lines," Trump said during a press conference Wednesday with Jordan's King Abdullah II. ABC's MEGHAN KENEALLY has more: http://abcn.ws/2nJ46wb

HILLARY CLINTON CALLS FOR STRIKES AGAINST SYRIAN AIRFIELDS. Before the U.S. took action Thursday night, former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton spoke out about how she would respond to Tuesday's chemical attack in Syria, promoting U.S. action to prevent further attacks with civilian casualties, notes ABC's ADAM KELSEY. Speaking at the Women in the World summit in New York City, Clinton said that the U.S. "should have been more willing to confront [Syrian President Bashar al-Assad]," before Russia got involved in the country's civil war. http://abcn.ws/2p7CVMZ

SENATE APPROVES 'NUCLEAR OPTION,' CLEARS PATH FOR NEIL GORSUCH SUPREME COURT NOMINATION VOTE. The Senate altered the long-standing practice for confirming Supreme Court justices Thursday after Democrats blocked the nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch. In order to bypass Democrats’ opposition, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., first invoked the so-called nuclear option, which triggered a vote to change Senate precedent by lowering the 60-vote threshold to a simple majority of 51 votes for Supreme Court cloture votes, explains ABC's ALI ROGIN. http://abcn.ws/2oNvew1

REP. DEVIN NUNES STEPS AWAY FROM RUSSIA INVESTIGATION AMID ETHICS COMPLAINTS. After a number of ethics complaints, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-California, announced Thursday that he will step aside from leading the House Intelligence Committee's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. "Several left-wing activist groups have filed accusations against me with the Office of Congressional Ethics. The charges are entirely false and politically motivated," said Nunes. ABC's MEGHAN KENEALLY, VERONICA STRACQUALURSI and BENJAMIN SIEGEL have more: http://abcn.ws/2ngraXR

BANNON CALLS REPORTS OF THREAT TO QUIT 'ABSURD,' AS INSIDERS SAY OTHERWISE. President Donald Trump's chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon flatly denied reports that he threatened to resign after being removed from the Principals Committee of the National Security Council. "Absurd," Bannon told ABC News when asked about the reports. The claim comes as multiple senior White House sources say Bannon did, in fact, threaten to quit his White House post, note ABC's JONATHAN KARL, KATHERINE FAULDERS and JOHN SANTUCCI. http://abcn.ws/2oebjIw

IVANKA TRUMP MET WITH PLANNED PARENTHOOD PRESIDENT SHORTLY AFTER INAUGURATION. Ivanka Trump met with Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards soon after the inauguration for what the group characterizes as a "cordial and informative meeting," reports ABC's JORDYN PHELPS. "The purpose of the meeting, from Planned Parenthood’s perspective, was to make sure that Ivanka Trump fully understood the important role Planned Parenthood plays in providing health care to millions of people and why it would be a disastrous idea to block people from accessing care at Planned Parenthood," Planned Parenthood said in a statement. http://abcn.ws/2o73JPE

WHO’S TWEETING?

@joshrogin: Former senior U.S. intelligence official: This is almost exactly the strike plan Obama readied in 2013.

@rickklein: "The president was authorized to commit this strike... not only does he have the right, he has an obligation to act," Rubio says @GMA

@IngrahamAngle: Missiles flying. Rubio's happy. McCain ecstatic. Hillary's on board. A complete policy change in 48 hrs.

@brianefallon: Two things Trump must answer: 1. Is he still opposed to Syrian refugees 2. Tell us how missile strike fits into larger strategy in Syria.

@RichardGrenell: Obama's redline has been enforced. By @realDonaldTrump.

@justinamash: Airstrikes are an act of war. Atrocities in Syria cannot justify departure from Constitution, which vests in Congress power to commence war.