Trump frustrated as Iran war enters fifth month: Report

US President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with prospects for a negotiated end to the Iran war, according to administration officials and a Thursday report in the Wall Street Journal, as the conflict entered its fifth month with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight.

White House concerns

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that some advisers fear the prolonged conflict is weighing heavily on Trump's presidency by fueling higher consumer prices and eroding his approval ratings ahead of crucial midterm elections. A senior administration official told the outlet that Trump believes the only thing Iran understands is military force and that he remains in “revenge mode” against Tehran, leaving him with few options other than continuing the strikes despite mounting costs.

Military posture and Israeli tensions

The Pentagon is deploying additional troops and weapons to the Middle East as Trump weighs further military escalation, even as concerns grow within the administration over the financial burden and fading public support for the war. The conflict has also strained ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Trump reluctant to speak with or meet the Israeli leader, according to a senior administration official familiar with the relationship.

Assassination threats and security measures

The war has taken a heavy personal toll on Trump and his senior advisers, some of whom have received warnings from intelligence agencies regarding Iranian assassination threats and have been advised to avoid using car services. While attending the NATO summit in Türkiye, Trump was briefed on Israeli intelligence regarding an alleged Iranian plot to kill him, prompting the president to return to Washington aboard an older Air Force One aircraft rather than the Qatari-gifted jet he had used for the trip.

Economic and political calculations

Trump was said to be furious after the New York Times disclosed the reason for the aircraft switch, identifying the leak as a security risk while his administration launched efforts to identify its source. The president has also pushed for lower gasoline prices ahead of the midterm elections and remains less concerned than his inner circle about the war's potential political fallout, according to people familiar with internal White House discussions.