President Barack Obama will address the American people on Syria from the White House on Tuesday in an effort to shift public opinion in favor of military action, he said Friday, while declining to rule out military action if he’s unable to get sufficient congressional support.

“In the coming days I’ll continue to consult with my fellow leaders around the world and continue to consult with Congress, and I will make the best case that I can to the American people, as well as to the international community, for taking necessary and appropriate action,” he said Friday during a press conference at the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other administration officials spent the week urging lawmakers to support the administration’s call for a strike against Bashar Assad’s regime, but are still struggling to build traction.

Members of Congress and others have been urging Obama to make his case with a public address — an idea the White House initially shrugged off — but with public opinion and congressional views solidifying, some supporters of the administration’s policy said Tuesday’s speech may come too late.

As he and his aides have for days, Obama expressed confidence that he would able to get Congress to approve a resolution for a strike against Syria and wouldn’t say he’d take action if one or both chambers of Congress voted against it. “I think it would be a mistake for me to jump the gun and speculate,” he said, adding that he didn’t call on Congress for “symbolism.” (...)