President Donald Trump reportedly screamed at aides for hours after learning two American pilots had gone missing in Iran on Good Friday, and was subsequently kept out of the Situation Room during minute-by-minute updates, according to The Wall Street Journal.
An F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran on April 3, prompting a high-stakes rescue mission. One crew member was swiftly rescued after ejecting, but the second spent more than 24 hours behind enemy lines before being safely extracted.
Back in Washington, Trump's fears about the war were escalating, 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 Chief of Staff Susie Wiles dialled into the Situation Room for updates, but Trump was not included, as aides believed his impatience would not be helpful.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump, stating he had 'remained a steady leader our country needs' and that the operation was part of his promise to deny Iran a nuclear weapon. The second airman was rescued on April 4, with the CIA playing a key role in locating him through a deception campaign.
Trump later boasted of the mission's success on Truth Social, and the next morning posted an expletive-laden threat to Iran, including 'Praise be to Allah.' When an adviser questioned the unusual language, Trump reportedly said he aimed to seem off-kilter and offensive, a tactic he thought the Iranians would respond to. The comments sparked global alarm and inquiries from lawmakers about the president's state of mind.
