War in the Middle East: between impatience and improvisation, Donald Trump seeks a way out

On the eve of the ceasefire set by Donald Trump, uncertainty remains. Behind the scenes, a president oscillating between frustration, improvisation, and nervousness.

Published on April 21, 2026 07:50, Reading Time: 3min

Donald Trump descends from the Air Force One plane upon his arrival at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 17, 2026. (JIM WATSON / AFP)

The nerve war continues between Iran and the United States. Donald Trump set the end of the ceasefire for Wednesday, April 22 in the evening, and on the eve of the deadline, uncertainty remains about the negotiations in Pakistan.

Uncertainty also reigns in the White House. The American press echoes a particular atmosphere, as the whole world wonders what Donald Trump will do. An investigation by the Wall Street Journal describes the almost constant improvisation in recent weeks at the helm of American diplomacy.

It reveals a Donald Trump irritated by this prolonged war, which brings a lot of bad news: a slowing global economy, reluctant allies, a resilient opponent, and worrying polls just a few months before the midterm elections. None of this was part of the plan.

Intoxicated by the success of the operation carried out at the beginning of January in Venezuela, repeatedly watching images of American strikes, Donald Trump saw this war against Iran as the ultimate achievement. Today, he finds himself looking for an exit strategy, which reinforces his sense of improvisation. When he uses insults to demand the opening of the Strait of Hormuz or threatens the destruction of an entire civilization on his social network, he acts alone, without consulting his security cabinet. His advisors discover his statements by opening their phones.

Alerted by concerned officials, they describe a president convinced of speaking the language of force but plagued by doubt, with his eye fixed on market reactions and furious about the negative responses to his actions. During the rescue of two American pilots hit by an Iranian strike, the president was kept out of real-time operation monitoring, fearing that his impulsive actions would disrupt its smooth progress. According to Time, his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, expressed concern about the presence of too sycophantic courtiers, calling for more honesty.

Convinced by Israel to launch into war and then by Pakistan to try to end it, Donald Trump must now find a way out. “Pressure them to reach an agreement,” he reportedly told his close advisors.