A long investigation by the American daily examines the behavior of the American billionaire since the beginning of the conflict in Iran.
On Friday, April 4, the White House learned that an American plane had been shot down in Iran. While two airmen were missing, an emergency crisis meeting was organized in the Oval Office to try to orchestrate the extraction of the two nationals… without the tenant of said Office. According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump was kept out of the room by his advisors because they thought “his impatience would be counterproductive.”
The thorough investigation by the American daily, published over the weekend, dissects the backstage of the rather impulsive style of the American president who has been making contradictory statements since the beginning of the war between the United States and Iran. This fuels speculation about a president who is leading the country with no steering wheel or rearview mirror.
“Impulsive Contradictions”
According to the media, the American leader only found out about the rescue of the second pilot from his close collaborators after a risky operation. This did not prevent the head of state from writing on Truth Social, “always as boastful” over the Easter weekend, the following message to the Iranians: “Open that damn strait, you crazy bastards, or you will go to hell!” punctuating his message with an Islamic prayer without first informing his team. According to Donald Trump, this “apparent instability could encourage Iranians to negotiate,” as reported by the authors of the article.
To the dismay of his team, who are concerned about his “impulsive contradictions” and a war that could become a “political burden.” Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Iranian civilization if no agreement is reached within twelve hours is in no way coordinated with a plan defined by the government team. It is once again pure improvisation, according to the daily.
“He Sometimes Loses Track”
Just minutes before the ceasefire, the Republican was more interested in the midterm elections, listening to reports from officials on “policies related to cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence.” “He sometimes loses track of his concerns, spending time on the details of his plans for the White House ballroom or fundraising for the midterm elections, and telling his advisors that he wants to address other subjects,” the newspaper quotes. A precarious ceasefire is finally announced about 90 minutes before the fateful deadline.
The Wall Street Journal paints the picture of a president frustrated by a war that is lasting and contradictory to the promises of his political program aiming not to engage in any “endless war.” While focusing on market reactions to the war and the energy crisis generated. Despite his public display of indifference, he worries about the consequences of the war and potential human losses on his political record. Trump even refused to send troops to seize control of Kharg Island, from which 90% of Iranian oil exports originate, for fear of too high American losses.
But the daily’s portrait is also that of a slowed president, endowed with a random concentration capacity, quick to chain contradictory reflections without consulting his teams. “Sometimes, Trump would joke with Leavitt, telling her that he had talked to a journalist and made a sensational revelation, but she had to wait to know more,” officials at the White House told the Wall Street Journal.
The American leader even considered awarding himself the “Medal of Honor,” the country’s highest military distinction, arguing for a frightening nighttime landing during a visit to troops in Iraq during his first term. His spokesperson Karoline Leavitt assured that he was joking.
