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Top Republicans on Friday said that President Trump's decision to punish Syria was a reassuring sign that he had abandoned isolationism and was through playing footsie with Russia.

Republicans have hoped that Trump's foreign policy might evolve from the "America first" approach that suggested he wasn't interested in being a global leader. And, they have strongly urged the president to stop coddling Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

Trump's decision to hit Syria with missile strikes in retaliation for using chemical weapons, and his administration's stern warning to Damascus' key ally, Russia, that such behavior wouldn't be tolerated, left senior Republicans optimistic that the president is finally changing course.

"This action reminded me of [former President] George W. Bush," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in an interview with the Washington Examiner. "It was well-planned, well-executed sent multiple messages."

McConnell said the strike put Syrian dictator Bashar Assad on notice that murdering civilians is unacceptable. The majority leader said it also signaled to U.S. adversaries and allies alike that "America is back, and playing a leadership role."

Republicans chafed under the foreign policy of former President Barack Obama. They criticized the Democrat for diminishing U.S. influence, charging that he appeased adversaries and neglected allies.

Yet, that's the same approach to international relations Trump telegraphed he might take while campaigning for president. The president questioned the value of crucial western alliances, and stubbornly refused to criticize Putin, whom he praised as a strong leader.

Similar to Obama, Trump argued that the U.S. was over-extended abroad and needed to refocus inward. The Republican appeared to go further, however.

Trump indicated that he was prepared to discard decades of bipartisan foreign policy consensus, formulated in the aftermath of World War II, and in particular embraced by the GOP since Ronald Reagan's presidency, that America had a unique role to play.

Also from the Washington Examiner

President Obama's former deputy national security adviser indicated Saturday that he isn't very happy with President Trump's decision to hit a Syrian air base with missiles.

Trump's missile strike, which was retaliation for Syria's use of chemical weapons, drew instant comparisons to Obama, who warned the U.S. would act if Syria used chemical weapons.

Obama did nothing after Syria crossed that "red line" of Obama's, and many said Trump was the one to finally enforce Obama's ultimatum years later.

But in an early Saturday morning tweet, Rhodes suggested that Trump's strike was only aimed at boosting his press coverage, and seemed to warn reporters against helping him achieve this.

04/08/17 4:04 PM

That's why Trump's action against Syria was so reassuring to Republicans. It symbolized to them that Trump was rejecting his isolationist tendencies, and embracing the hawkish foreign policy that has dominated his party for nearly four decades.

"I was proud of him," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a hawk who has been sharply critical of Trump's foreign policy. "He called me last night, and he said: 'Well, I bet you're happy.' I said: 'No, I'm proud. I'm proud that you did something that needed to be done.'"

Even a few Democrats praised Trump, however sparingly. While making clear that they wanted the president to communicate, more specifically, his military and diplomatic strategy for Syria, they were generally pleased to see him embrace a traditional foreign policy.

"I support this action by President Trump," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee. "Assad's murderous campaign against his own people has gone on far too long."

Trump's flirtation with Putin has rankled Democrats and Republicans. But the matter has been particularly distressing for a GOP proud of its foreign policy heritage as the party that won the Cold War and presided over the demise of the Soviet Union.

Also from the Washington Examiner

Trump defended the strike as a way to defend the "vital national security and foreign policy."

04/08/17 2:55 PM

So despite their acceptance of the president's various political eccentricities, they have resisted him on Russia. Republicans have begged Trump to treat Moscow as an adversary and recognize its bad behavior, from repressing democracy at home to invading neighbors, not to mention undermining U.S. interests.

Syria is an example. Russia has propped up Assad and has a significant military presence in Syria, in an effort to challenge Washington's influence in the Middle East. The U.S. struck anyway, without coordinating or seeking Putin's advance of approval (Moscow was warned, but only to avoid an unintended military confrontation.)

The Trump administration additionally delivered a stern message to Russia that complicity with Assad's use of chemical weapons was unacceptable. All of that has deepened the Republicans' confidence that the president's infatuation with Putin might be over.

"For a lot of people, it will probably put to rest all this discussion about, oh, he and Putin are holding hands together," said Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, a pointed Russia hawk who serves on the intelligence committee. "If that was the case on Wednesday, it wasn't the case by midnight on Thursday."

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With Syria strike, Trump reassures Republicans on Russia - Washington Examiner