Trump Grows Frustrated as Iran War Enters Fifth Month, Advisers Fear Midterm Fallout

Fifth month, no exit

The war in Iran has entered its fifth month with no end in sight, and the politics inside Trump's own White House are starting to show cracks. According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by Anadolu Ajansı, President Trump has grown "increasingly frustrated and skeptical" that a lasting peace with Iran is achievable anytime soon.

A senior administration official told the Journal that Trump believes military force is the only language Tehran understands, and that he's operating in what the official called "revenge mode" against the Iranian regime. That leaves him with few options besides continuing the strikes.

The US is deploying more troops and weapons into the Middle East as Trump weighs whether to escalate further, despite advisers flagging concerns over costs and shaky public support for a longer fight.

Aides worried about the midterms, Trump less so

Some of Trump's advisers fear the prolonged conflict is weighing on his presidency by fueling higher prices, eroding his approval ratings, and hurting Republicans' prospects in the upcoming midterm elections. Trump himself, according to people familiar with the discussions, was less concerned than his advisers about the war's political fallout. He pushed for lower gasoline prices ahead of the midterms but hasn't shown the same anxiety his aides have about the broader war weighing on his presidency.

Netanyahu relationship strained

The war has also strained ties between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A senior administration official told the Journal that Trump has been reluctant to even speak with or meet Netanyahu as the conflict drags on. No specifics were given on what's driving the rift, but the freeze in communication between two allies who've otherwise been closely aligned is notable on its own.

Assassination threats and the Air Force One switch

The personal toll on Trump and his top staff has been real, according to people familiar with the matter. Intelligence agencies have warned some senior officials of Iranian assassination threats and advised them to avoid using car services.

At the NATO summit in Türkiye, Trump was briefed on Israeli intelligence pointing to an alleged Iranian plot against him. US officials reportedly questioned how credible that specific threat was, but the briefing is said to have prompted Trump to fly home on an older Air Force One rather than the jet gifted by Qatar.

When the New York Times reported the real reason behind that switch, Trump was furious, according to the Journal's sourcing, calling the leak a security risk. His administration reportedly sought to identify the source.

What's unresolved

The US says its naval blockade against Iran remains in effect, and Iran is still trading diplomatic jabs with Ukraine and the EU over an alleged Caspian Sea vessel incident. None of that points toward de-escalation.

Whether Trump changes course before the midterms is unclear. His own advisers, per the Journal's reporting, think the war is becoming a political liability. Trump, by the accounts given to reporters, doesn't seem to see it that way yet.