A US jet shot down over Iran triggered chaos inside the White House, with President Donald Trump screaming at aides and kept out of the room as officials planned a high-risk rescue mission, reported The Wall Street Journal.The incident unfolded on Good Friday after Trump was informed that two American airmen were missing. According to the report, he demanded that the military “go get them immediately,” pushing for rapid action despite the complexities of operating inside Iranian territory.US forces had not operated on the ground in Iran for decades, forcing officials to assess how to enter hostile terrain and avoid detection by Iranian forces before launching any rescue attempt.Also read: Iran rejects second round of talks with US in PakistanAides, concerned that Trump’s impatience could disrupt planning, kept him out of detailed discussions as they received minute-by-minute updates, briefing him only at key moments, the report said, citing a senior administration official.The incident also brought up Trump’s fears of a repeat of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis under Jimmy Carter, which he had previously described as a political disaster. “If you look at what happened with Jimmy Carter…with the helicopters and the hostages, it cost them the election,” Trump had reportedly said in March, calling the situation “a mess.”One airman was recovered quickly. The second remained behind enemy lines for more than 24 hours before being rescued late Saturday in a high-stakes extraction, averting what could have become a major setback for the administration.Within hours of the rescue, Trump returned to a more aggressive posture, issuing a profanity-laced warning to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz in a social media post, drawing attention for its language and tone.Critics say the approach lacks strategic coherence. Kori Schake told the Journal that battlefield gains have not translated into a clear path to victory.The White House has defended the president’s handling of the situation, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt saying he has remained a steady leader during the conflict.Meanwhile, in the latest developments, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain elevated, with the US military seizing an Iranian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
