CNN's Jake Tapper asks U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley about comments made by President Trump during the 2016 campaign that intervening in Syria could lead to "world war three."







At a campaign rally in Waterloo, IA in September, Trump said: "We're going to start World War Three? Over Syria? Give me a break!"





TAPPER: While I'm not second-guessing the decision, you know, as I said, it's not the first chemical weapons attack. It's not the worst chemical weapons attack. And, in fact, during the campaign, President Trump warned against getting involved militarily in Syria.



Take a listen.



TRUMP: It's not that big an area. The airspace is very limited. So, now you have -- what, do we start World War III over Syria?



TAPPER: So, he was worried about starting World War III over Syria. Why is that no longer a concern? And why was the 2013 chemical weapons attack, which, as you know, was deadlier, not a trigger for him in terms of the principle of action in Syria?



HALEY: Well, he wasn't president in 2013. And I can tell you--



TAPPER: But he opposed it. He opposed action.



HALEY: But I don't know what his thought process was then. I can tell you what his thought process was this week, which was, he is not going to condone chemical weapons use ever.



And so what you saw was, he wasn't just going to say it. He was going to act. And what we have seen at the United Nations is a huge sigh of relief. They're just so thankful that the United States led on this issue.



And we called out Russia, because we needed to. We put Iran on notice, because that -- we need to get that influence out of there. And we told Syria, we are not going to watch this anymore.



And so what the president chooses to do, I hope that what Iran sees and Syria sees and Russia sees is that this is a president that's not afraid to act, and that he does expect to move towards a political solution. And they have to show genuine willingness to do that.



TAPPER: He's not concerned anymore, though, about this being a potential quagmire or about this potentially starting World War III?



HALEY: I can tell you that, of the conversations I had this week, he knew what the risks were, he knew what the situation was, he looked at the history of the situation, and he decided.



And I think his decision was right. And I think you can see that from the international community. They all fully support it.

