President Donald Trump reportedly screamed at aides for hours after learning that two US pilots had gone missing in Iran on Good Friday, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The incident occurred after an F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran on April 3, prompting a high-stakes rescue mission.
One crew member was rescued swiftly after ejecting, but the second spent more than 24 hours behind enemy lines. Back in Washington, Trump's fears about the war's progress were mounting, with images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis looming large in his mind, the Journal reported, citing a senior administration official.
Over the next 24 hours, senior aides including Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles gathered in the Situation Room for minute-by-minute updates. Trump was kept out of the room, with aides believing his impatience would not be helpful, the official said. He was only informed at meaningful moments by phone.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the president, stating he had remained a steady leader. The CIA played a key role in locating the second airman, using a deception campaign to mislead Iranian forces. The rescue was described as the ultimate needle in a haystack.
After the successful extraction, Trump boasted on Truth Social and later issued expletive-laden threats against Iran, including ordering them to open the Strait of Hormuz. When an adviser questioned his language, Trump said he aimed to seem off-kilter and offensive, a tactic he believed would resonate with Iranians. The comments sparked global alarm and inquiries from lawmakers about his state of mind.
