WASHINGTON — While condemning the chemical weapons attack in Syria, President Trump on Tuesday also hit predecessor Barack Obama.

"These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the past administration’s weakness and irresolution," Trump said in a written statement issued in the White House.

Trump referred to his predecessor's decision against military action after another Syrian chemical attack in 2013, a year after Obama had declared that the use of chemical weapons would cross a "red line" triggering consequences.

In a rare public rebuke to a previous White House occupant, Trump stated that "President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a 'red line' against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing."

At the time, however, Trump opposed the notion of bombing Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons. In a tweet on Aug. 29, 2013, the then-New York businessman tweeted: "What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? Obama needs Congressional approval."