President Donald Trump reportedly unleashed an expletive-filled rant against Iran's leaders during an Oval Office meeting, expressing frustration with the lack of progress in the US-Iran conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal. A person who overheard the remarks said the president called Iranian leaders “scumbags” and “lunatics.”
The conflict, now roughly five months old, has seen limited progress on a peace deal, with lengthy negotiations between the two sides. A senior administration official said Trump is losing patience and sees few good options besides continuing military strikes, which resumed earlier this month after a ceasefire collapsed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Iran broke a memorandum of understanding by attacking commercial ships and killing American soldiers.
When the war began in February, Trump insisted it was a temporary conflict aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. However, the administration has struggled to end the conflict, particularly after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, causing global oil prices to skyrocket and pushing up US inflation. As of July 24, AAA estimated the national average regular fuel price at over $4 per gallon. US service member casualties have also risen, with three killed last weekend, bringing the total to 18.
American support for the war is waning, with a Politico poll showing a 13 percentage point drop in support among MAGA voters between May and July. Members of Congress have also expressed frustration; House Republicans recently joined Democrats in voting for a symbolic resolution to halt US military action in Iran, reflecting discontent within Trump's own party.
The war has taken a personal toll on Trump, who has been advised to stop using car services due to security concerns that Iran is trying to kill him. Earlier this month, Trump reportedly had to fly out of Turkey on the older Air Force One rather than the newly refurbished Boeing 747 due to security concerns.
