Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) informed President Barack Obama’s administration ahead of time before traveling into Syria to meet with that country’s rebels, a White House official said Tuesday.“The senator made the administration generally aware of his trip,” White House Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri said on MSNBC. “It’s something that now that it’s completed, we look forward to talking to him about the developments he saw on his trip.”
A McCain aide told POLITICO the State Department didnÂ’t object to his Syrian sojourn.
“I know they worked with the State Department with this,” the aide, who was only authorized to speak on background, said. “We didn’t really have any issues with them on it.”
Palmieri said McCainÂ’s trip doesnÂ’t increase pressure on the Obama administration to begin directly arming the rebels or create a no-fly zone, two steps McCain has advocated for.
“I don’t believe his trip puts more pressure on us,” she said. “All of the options you described are what the administration is considering in terms of how we deal with Syria.”
McCain is currently in Yemen and is expected to return to the United States by the end of the week.