President Donald Trump is losing patience with the ongoing war against Iran, now in its fifth month with no clear resolution. According to a Wall Street Journal report, alongside frustration over the continued fighting and failure to reach a stable arrangement, the White House is increasingly worried about Iranian attempts to target Trump and senior administration officials.
2+According to the report, several of the president’s top advisers received intelligence warnings that Iran is trying to target them. As a result, some were instructed to stop using ride-sharing services and hired cars over fears of a planned attack. At the same time, Trump himself was briefed during a visit to Turkey with intelligence from Israel indicating that Tehran was examining a new plan to target him.
American officials described the intelligence about the assassination attempt on Trump as not necessarily solid enough, but it still influenced security considerations around the president. According to the report, due to security concerns, a decision was made to fly Trump from Turkey on an older Air Force One plane after officials raised concerns that the luxury aircraft he received from Qatar wasn’t equipped with adequate defense systems.
2+The Wall Street Journal also reported that Trump was furious after the reason for switching planes leaked to the media, telling his staff it was a security breach. Following the leak, several administration officials were asked to hand over their phones as part of an internal effort to locate the source of the disclosure.
In the background, the American president is frustrated that the confrontation with Iran has dragged on far longer than he expected. Sources close to him said Trump, who previously believed a deal with Tehran was possible, has grown more skeptical about a diplomatic solution. A senior administration official even said the president is in “revenge mode” against Iran and believes the regime in Tehran only understands military force.
According to the report, the war is taking a political and economic toll on Trump: fuel prices have risen, public support has been damaged, and among his advisers there’s concern that the prolonged confrontation will hurt Republicans in the midterm elections. Meanwhile, the United States is reinforcing troops, military assets, and medical teams in the Middle East to give the president additional options in case of escalation.
2+White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran violated understandings with the United States, attacked commercial ships, and caused the deaths of American soldiers. She said Trump “will not stand by” in the face of what she called terrorist behavior, and made clear that Iran will continue to pay a price until it comes to the negotiating table in a way the president sees as serious and meaningful.
The war with Iran is also affecting relations with Israel. According to the report, Trump has recently expressed frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well, and even told his aides he doesn’t want to speak with him or meet with him. Nevertheless, Israel has sought to advance a meeting between the two, and Netanyahu’s circle has been exploring the possibility of a visit to the United States next week.