He is commander-in-chief.
But when a U.S. pilot was trapped behind enemy lines, Donald Trump was reportedly locked out of the Situation Room.
“Screamed at aides for hours”
On April 3, an F-15E Strike Eagle went down over southwestern Iran during military operations, scattering its two-person crew across hostile terrain.
One airman was quickly recovered, but the second remained missing for more than 24 hours, forcing U.S. forces into a tense and dangerous search-and-rescue mission in contested territory.
However, Donald Trump was reportedly not present in the Situation Room during the high-stakes military operation
According to The Wall Street Journal, the president reacted angrily upon learning that two airmen were unaccounted for and “screamed at aides for hours” in the West Wing.
During the exchange, he reportedly referenced past political consequences tied to foreign policy crises, saying: “If you look at what happened with Jimmy Carter… it cost them the election. What a mess.”
As the rescue mission unfolded, senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, monitored developments from the Situation Room. Trump, however, was not present for the real-time briefings and instead received updates by phone.
“Aides kept the president out of the room as they got minute-by-minute updates because they believed his impatience wouldn’t be helpful,” a senior administration official said, adding that Trump was informed “at meaningful moments.”
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