Story highlights Some lawmakers want Trump to consider removing Assad

Republicans defended Trump blaming Obama for the Syrian chemical attack

Washington (CNN) Republican lawmakers are ramping up their calls for the Trump administration to act against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the wake of Tuesday's chemical attack that killed dozens.

Many Democrats, too, are pressing for actions like creating a no-fly zone and trying to bring war crimes charges against the Syrian leader.

The calls are coming from many of the same lawmakers in both parties who for years urged President Barack Obama to do more to arm Syrian rebel groups and to strike the Assad regime, and now say that it's Trump's turn to act to remove Assad from power.

"I don't think there is a future with Bashar al-Assad in existence," Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois said on CNN's "New Day." "That is something that this administration, frankly, like the last one I think failed to do -- they did in words but not in deeds — this administration is going to have to come to that reality or this problem is sadly only going to continue and get worse."

On Tuesday, the Trump administration blamed Syria's attack on the Obama administration's failure to act against Assad. But at a news conference Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he is now responsible for the situation, and suggested he was considering taking additional action.

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