Amid heightened tensions with Iran, Donald Trump opposed a proposed US ground operation on Khark Island over fears that American troops would be exposed as easy targets and suffer heavy, unacceptable losses, according to The Wall Street Journal.
According to the report, Trump reacted angrily upon learning that Iran had shot down a US fighter jet over its territory, shouting at aides for hours following the incident.
The same sources said Trump was alarmed by the possibility of a repeat of the Iran hostage crisis, when Iranian students detained 66 American diplomats and staff after storming the US Embassy in Tehran. He subsequently called for an immediate search-and-rescue operation to recover the crew of the downed F-15E aircraft in early April.
In the same context, the newspaper revealed that Trump’s aides received real-time operational updates but limited what they shared with him to key points, avoiding in-depth discussions out of concern that his impulsiveness could jeopardize the mission.
Concerns Over Trump’s Communication Style
Separately, the report noted that Trump’s advisers have urged him to scale back media interviews, warning that such appearances tend to highlight inconsistencies in his statements.
Sources said Trump initially agreed but soon reverted to his previous approach. At times, he reportedly joked with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about speaking directly to journalists and sharing significant information, leaving her to learn of it later through published reports.
The sources added that Trump frequently improvises in his posts on the Truth Social platform. One US official cited a post published on April 7, 2026, in which Trump threatened to “destroy Iranian civilization,” saying it was made spontaneously and was not part of any formal national security strategy.
Source: Agencies (translated and edited by Al-Manar)