Watch Replay: Sean Spicer Defends Airstrikes In Syria, Downplays Reports Of Staff Infighting

WASHINGTON, DC — White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer delivered a press briefing Monday afternoon, the first time he's faced questions on air since the president ordered airstrikes in Syria.

Last Thursday, President Trump announced and executed missile strikes on a Syrian air base in response to President Assad's chemical attacks in the country's continuing civil war. And on Monday, Judge Neil Gorsuch was scheduled to be sworn in on the Supreme Court, the culmination of what may be Trump's most impactful decision as president to date. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

In discussing the strikes in Syria in his opening remarks, Spicer said the administration "holds open the possibility" of using airstrikes again against Assad if necessary. Asked why taking airstrikes against Syria was appropriate but taking in refugees is not, Spicer said that one of the key aims of the strikes was to limit the proliferation of chemical weapons more broadly.

Spicer would not say that the president considers Assad a war criminal but said that deescalating the conflict, creating an environment for regime change and fighting ISIS would be the administration's priorities in the region. He also said that the "Trump Doctrine" is "America First" and that halting the spread of chemical weapons was a central part of that.

A reporter pointed out that the airfield the missiles hit have already flown planes following the attack, suggesting the missiles had minor impacts. Spicer said that these flights were a "PR stunt" and that the base had taken on significant damage.

The press secretary also tried to reconcile Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's claims that the Syrian people would decide Assad's fate and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley's claims that Assad must be removed from power. Spicer emphasized that creating an environment in which Assad leaves power has to be the goal.

When he was asked whether Trump needed congressional approval to launch strikes on Syria, Spicer said that Article 2 of the constitution was clear that the president could act in this way on the grounds of national security.

Spicer said the president's view of Russian President Vladimir Putin has not changed, in that he would still like to work together with Russia to defeat ISIS. However, he left open the possibility that cooperation on that front may not be forthcoming.

Asked about reports of divisions in the administration, particularly between Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, Spicer said there are some policy disagreements, but they have been exaggerated in the press. He said that the president has specifically crafted a team that would bring in a diversity of views. In response to questions about personnel shakeups, Spicer said the only think being shaken up is Washington.

Speaking on the appointment of Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, Spicer said the president has learned that Democrats will be difficult to work with.

Watch a replay of the proceedings here.

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Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images News/Getty Images