Syrian Strike, Stockholm Terror Attack, and a New Health Care Plan? The Latest on the Week's Biggest Stories

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump made no direct mention of the Syrian bombing in his weekly address to the nation. 

Instead, the president focused on immigration, recent meetings with world leaders and that 'America First' message that got him elected. 

"In our dealings with other nations, our conversations have been candid, open, and grounded in mutual respect. I have been clear about advocating for the national interests of the United States, something so important to me, and so important to our people," said Trump. 
 
The Trump administration's decision to send 59 tomahawk missiles striking that Syrian air base has garnered mixed reactions. 

Democrat vs. Democrat. Republican vs. Republican

"You gotta bring this to Congress with a plan that tells Congress what's the end game," said former vice-presidential nominee, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va. 
 
However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised the decision. 

"Making sure Assad knows that when he commits such despicable atrocities he will pay a price is the right thing to do," Schumer said in a statement.  
 
On the GOP side, Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, pointed out that such actions bypassed Congress.  

"While we all condemn the atrocities in Syria, the United States was not attacked. The president needs congressional authorization for military action," Paul tweeted. 
 
But Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told CBN's David Brody the strike was direct and strategic. 

"It wasn't a symbolic measure. It was to destroy a specific air field that was of important strategic capacity for Assad, that had been used in the very chemical attack. So it had a very clear objective and they achieved that objective," Rubio defended.  

General Jerry Boykin, former Undersecretary of Defense for George W. Bush, told CBN the strike on Syria was wasn't solely for Assad but to get the attention of other nations as well.  

"I think the message relative to North Korea was more appropriate to China than North Korea. Kim Jong- Un is certifiably crazy and he may not read messages the way you would as a westerner. But China, who was by the way, with Donald Trump when these events occurred, I think it is easier for him to now say to China, look, you take action on North Korea or I'll take action on North Korea," predicted Boykin.  
 
The death toll in that chemical attack has risen to almost 90 with more than four-hundred thousand Syrians killed since the war began in 2011.
 
Prayers for Stockholm
 
Swedish police have arrested a man in connection with the Friday terrorist attack. Four people were killed and 15 injured when a truck crashed into a popular department store in Stockholm.  Investigators say the suspect was known to Swedish intelligence. 
 
Healthcare: Take 2
Congressman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., tells CBN News that a vote on a new healthcare plan could come during the two week Easter recess and that House members would be willing to come back to make it happen.

Meadows is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, the group that put the brakes on the last attempt. 

So what's different this time? 

"I think there is room for optimism because we want to get it done on behalf of the American people and failure is not an option," Meadows assured.