DONALD Trump wanted to launch air strikes on the Assad regime to prove he is stronger than Barack Obama, White House aides have revealed.

The US president also wanted to act over the nerve gas massacre in Syria on Tuesday to send a message to North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons programme.

12 The US President wants to act over the nerve gas massacre in Syria on Tuesday Credit: Getty Images

In the early hours of Friday morning, the US launched 59 “precision-guided” cruise missiles into the Shayat Airfield in Syria.

Washington DC officials had told opposite numbers in London to expect the president to order surgical strikes on Syrian regime targets.

President Trump also started telling members of Congress that he was considering military action in Syria.

He had already told America that the dawn attack on Tuesday morning that killed at least 86 people - including 27 children - “crossed a lot of lines for me”.

12 A source said it's a good opportunity to show 'he's different to Obama' Credit: AP:Associated Press

12 DC officials have told opposite numbers in London to expect the president to order surgical cruise missiles strikes Credit: EPA

12 Trump is hoping to send a message to North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons programme Credit: Reuters

Before launching the Tomahawk missile strike, Trump declared “something should happen” to derail Syrian despot Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

He added: “What Assad did is terrible.”

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said “steps were under way” to organise an international coalition to oust Assad.

A senior government source told The Sun: “Trump’s people are clear that he wants to do this, and we think he will.

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“He thinks it’s a good opportunity to show people he’s different from Obama, and North Korea will also see that.”

After initially refusing to say whether she would back Trump's military action, Prime Minister Theresa May's government has said the missile strike was an appropriate response to Assad's depraved chemical attack.

The nerve gas massacre killed at least 86 people - including 27 children

Horrific images show piles of dead children after the attack

Shocking images show the destruction at a hospital in Khan Sheikhun, Idlib, following the atrocity

12 Theresa May has backed Trump's missile strike in Syria Credit: EPA

May branded the Sarin slaughter “a despicable attack” adding: “All those who are backing that regime, including Russia, need to use their influence to stop Assad from bombarding his people in such a horrific way”.

Russia is opposing a UN bid to order a full investigation of the suspected chemical attack in Syria.

12 Though he is currently propping up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Credit: EPA

12 Mr Trump yesterday met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the tycoon’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida Credit: Getty Images

12 They were expected to talk trade and North Korea Credit: Getty Images

The US, Britain and France want to send in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Their UN resolution calls on the Syrian regime to provide flight plans, flight logs and the names of commanders of helicopter squadrons on the day.

Russia has used its veto power to block UN action in Syria seven times so far.

Mr Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the tycoon’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida where they were expected to talk about trade and North Korea.

The pair were dining when the Tomahawk attack was launched from the eastern Mediterranean.

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