By Meghan Keneally PUBLISHED: 10:50 EST, 30 April 2013 | UPDATED: 14:54 EST, 30 April 2013 President Obama today defended his administration’s slow response to reports of chemical weapon use in Syria, in spite of his earlier promises that the use of such weapons would be considered ‘crossing a red line’. The President said at a press conference on Tuesday that ‘there is a whole host of steps that we've been taking’ but he did not specifically say whether his administration would be prepared to take military action against Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He said the war-torn country is ‘a blemish on the international community.’
@highlight
President held press conference talking about Syria's reported use of chemical weapons, but toned down rhetoric
@highlight
Before he repeatedly said that if Assad's forces used chemical weapons against its people, that would be crossing a 'red line'
@highlight
Called Syria a 'blemish on the international community'
@highlight
Talked about interaction with Russian intelligence forces in the investigation into the Boston Marathon bombing
@highlight
Said they are being cooperative but 'old habits die hard'
@highlight
Spoke of hunger strike in Guantanamo Bay, saying he still wants it closed
@highlight
Obama called NBA star Jason Collins yesterday after hearing that he came out as gay, said that he is a role model for LGBT youth
President Obama also said that another factor hurting our ability to fight terrorism is the continued usage of the @placeholder, where prisoners are currently holding a hunger strike to show their disgust with their treatment.