White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has expressed concerns that aides are giving President Donald Trump “a rose-colored view” of the Iran war and its domestic impacts, according to a new report.
It’s been more than a month since the U.S. and Israel started launching strikes against Iran. Gas prices have soared in the U.S. to more than $4 a gallon on average, 13 American service members have died and more than 300 troops have been injured.
During his national address Wednesday night, Trump touted his perceived wins in a war he claims started because Iran was an imminent threat to Americans.
“Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating large-scale losses in a matter of weeks. Our enemies are losing and America, as it has been for five years under my presidency, is winning, and now winning bigger than ever before,” Trump said, seemingly referring to his first term and the first year of his second term.
Trump reportedly fills his days watching the victories of the war in Iran, while being shielded from the negative impacts of the conflict.
The president receives daily compilation videos of the latest, most successful strikes on Iranian targets, NBC News reported last week, citing U.S. officials.
On Thursday, Time reported, citing two White House sources, that Wiles has expressed concern the president is getting “a rose-colored view” of how Americans perceive the Iran war. Wiles has reportedly told staffers to be “more forthright with the boss” about the political and economic risks associated with conflict.
The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
A majority of Americans, 59 percent, oppose the Iran war, while just 28 percent support it, according to a recent The Economist/YouGov poll.
When asked whether they thought the Trump administration has been giving Americans accurate information about the progress of the war, 55 percent said no, and just 25 percent said yes.
Trump claimed in his address Iran’s “ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed.” But CNN reported Thursday that recent U.S. intelligence shows Iran still has about half of its missile launchers and thousands of drones.
The president told reporters Tuesday the war could end within two to three weeks, but Americans think it will take longer for the conflict to be resolved.
In the recent poll, 59 percent said it was either somewhat or very unlikely that the U.S. and Iran would reach a negotiated settlement to end the war in the next month, while just 22 percent said it was somewhat or very likely.
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