Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) drew parallels between President Trump and former President Ronald Reagan after Trump launched a missile strike against Syria. 

“All I can say about this president is he has the instincts of Ronald Reagan in many ways,” Graham told reporters Friday, according to The Washington Examiner. “[Trump’s] an emotional man, but he’s also a very smart man.”

“I think he feels that he did the right thing by those children, and I told him that a proportional response over time is going to be the elimination of a man who’s killed 500,000 people.”

{mosads}The U.S. fired 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airfield late Thursday in response to a deadly chemical attack that officials believe originated from the base. 

Trump said Thursday that he was moved to action against President Bashar Assad’s government upon learning about the attack, which killed dozens and injured many more, including children.

“Using a deadly nerve agent, Assad choked out the lives of helpless men, women, and children,” he said at his Mar-a-Largo resort in Palm Beach, Fla., announcing the strike. “It was a slow and brutal death for so many.”

“Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack,” Trump added. “No child of God should ever suffer such horror.”

Thursday’s strike inspired multiple lawmakers in both major parties to urge Trump to collaborate with Congress on future military action in Syria, although he seemed to receive support for the move from both sides of the aisle. 

Graham said Friday that lawmakers troubled by Trump’s judgment on Syria could try using their “power of the purse” against the president.

“To all of my colleagues who think that this president cannot act without your approval: you don’t understand the way the Constitution works. If you don’t like what he’s going to do in the future or what he’s doing now, then you can defund these operations.”