Insider details of Iran war decision-making revealed: Trump deliberately cleared the room and fabricated false intelligence to mislead leakers on the eve of the conflict; Vice President Vance was the strongest internal opposition voice; Defense Secretary was 'caught off guard' by Iran's large-scale retaliation.
As the conflict progressed, the Chief of Staff expressed concern that the President, who watched 'victory videos' daily, was being misled and warned that the situation was spiraling out of control, urging for more candid internal briefings on the state of the war. Currently, Trump is urgently seeking an 'exit strategy,' but finding a dignified resolution has become the central challenge.
From the secret plot to clear the field on the eve of the war to the post-war plunge in public opinion polls and the surge in oil prices, Time magazine has recently disclosed a series of previously unknown internal details of the White House.
According to disclosures, multiple senior White House officials, members of Congress, and informed sources have reconstructed many insider details of the pre-war decision-making process and the current dilemma.
Trump deliberately cleared the room and fabricated false intelligence to mislead leakers on the eve of the war; Vice President Vance was the strongest internal opposition voice. Faced with surging oil prices, the White House Chief of Staff has come to realize that 'the situation may be spiraling out of control.' She is concerned that the President, immersed daily in viewing 'compilations of battlefield victory videos,' is being deceived by one-sided information and is actively urging colleagues to provide Trump with a more honest account of the real situation on the ground.
Moreover, the Defense Secretary was 'caught off guard' by the scale of regional retaliation. His sentiment was: 'Wow, we are really getting bogged down.'
As the Iran war approaches its fifth week, the Trump administration is facing mounting political and economic pressures, and internal discussions within the White House have begun on how to find an exit strategy for this conflict.
The Eve of War: Clearing the Room, False Intelligence, and the Final Inner Circle
This joint US-Iran strike against Iran, codenamed 'Operation Epic Fury,' according toCCTV News, on the 28th local time, US President Trump stated that the US military had begun military strikes against Iran.
The weekly publication disclosed key details from the eve of the conflict between February 27 and 28.
On February 27, Trump traveled to Mar-A-Lago. His aides gathered in a temporary situation room. Trump visibly frowned upon seeing the number of people in the room — 'He thought there were too many people,' an official recalled, 'Some he didn’t recognize, or felt weren’t familiar enough.'
Subsequently, Trump announced the suspension of the operation, claiming further deliberations were needed. This was a deliberate misdirection: he had already decided to launch the attack that night.
After the crowd dispersed, he reconvened a smaller core group — Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Envoy Steve Witkoff, and White House Counsel David Warrington. They witnessed the first bombs falling while having dinner on the terrace at Mar-A-Lago.
Vice President Vance was not present. The White House explained that this aligned with continuity-of-government protocols — the president and vice president must remain separated during sensitive military operations. However, according to two informed sources, Vance was the strongest voice within the inner circle opposing the action.
That night, Trump told those present: 'J.D. (Vance) really doesn’t like this. But once a decision is made, it’s final, right?'
A White House insider added that Vance had outlined both the pros and cons to the president prior to the operation. 'Once the president made the call, the vice president stood fully behind him.'
Previously, when The New York Times disclosed partial details of the operation plan on February 17, Trump was furious and lashed out at his aides. He then publicly stated that he would decide whether to strike 'within 10 to 15 days' — though he knew the actual operation would happen much sooner. 'He was deliberately misleading externally to protect the mission,' a White House official said.
White House Chief of Staff Worries About Trump Watching 'Victory Videos' Daily
In the third week of the war, Trump’s long-time polling advisor Tony Fabrizio presented unsettling data.
The survey showed that public support for the war continued to decline. Meanwhile, U.S. gasoline prices had surpassed $4 per gallon, the stock market had dropped to multi-year lows, millions of people were preparing to protest in the streets, and 13 American soldiers had been killed.
However, according to a senior government official, in terms of information reception, Trump has been watching a military-produced "compilation of battlefield victory videos" every morning recently. He told his advisors that eliminating the nuclear threat would be his signature achievement.
The enormous economic cost contrasts sharply with the optimistic war reports. According to two White House sources, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has realized that "the situation may be spiraling out of control."
Wiles is concerned that aides have been giving the president "only good news and withholding bad news." For this reason, she strongly urged her colleagues to "be more candid with Trump about the state of the conflict," demanding they fully inform the president of the real political and economic risks domestically triggered by the war.
Under mounting pressure, a shift is occurring. According to two advisors and two members of Congress who spoke with Trump within the past week, Trump is now seeking an "exit strategy," fearing that a protracted conflict could hurt the Republican Party's performance in the November midterm elections.
A senior White House official stated, "The window of opportunity for us is very narrow."
Defense Secretary "caught off guard" as Iran's retaliation exceeds expectations
According to Time magazine, citing a person familiar with his thinking, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was "caught off guard" by Iran's massive retaliation.
Iran's retaliation far exceeded earlier assessments, not only targeting U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria and Israeli cities but also attacking countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, which had long been considered "out of striking range."
The source said that Hegseth "expected some form of retaliation from Iran, but when they began attacking nearly the entire region, he felt: 'Wow, we are really in deep.'"
During pre-war internal discussions, Hegseth cited Iran’s restrained response to Trump's previous strikes, arguing that limited force could pressure Tehran without triggering a larger-scale war.
In response, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell denied the claim, stating that the U.S. military "had long anticipated, simulated, and fully prepared for all possible reactions from Iran, ranging from the weakest to the most extreme escalation," and added that "any move by Iran will not come as a surprise to us."
Blockade of Hormuz: The Largest Oil Shock in History
Iran subsequently played a critical card: the Strait of Hormuz.
Approximately 20% of the world’s daily oil supply passes through this narrow waterway. Iran announced a de facto blockade of the strait, allowing only "non-hostile" vessels to pass through.
This move triggered the largest oil supply shock in modern history. Global economic growth forecasts were significantly downgraded, with energy shortages emerging in Europe and Asia. Energy traders warned that the full impact of the shock had yet to be felt. Independent analysts noted that if the blockade persists, reopening the strait would either require a U.S. ground occupation or a negotiated ceasefire—neither of which would be easy to achieve.
Trump acknowledged in an interview with Time magazine: "They are very tough and can endure immense pain. I respect them for that."
Strategic Objectives in Question, Internal Divisions Emerge
Unilateral Pentagon data claimed that "Operation Epic Fury" had destroyed or degraded approximately 90% of Iran's missile capabilities, neutralized about 70% of its launchers, and sunk or incapacitated over 150 naval vessels. Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei and several high-ranking officials had been killed, according to reports.Xinhua News AgencyMoreover, Trump self-proclaimed that the U.S. had achieved an "overwhelming victory" against Iran, stating that "the Iranian navy has now been completely destroyed, and its air force and missile programs have also been severely crippled."
However, the broader objectives initially set by Trump—permanently blocking Iran’s path to nuclear weapons, dismantling its ballistic missile program, and promoting regime change—are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve within the compressed timeline established by the White House.
During internal discussions, some national security officials warned that continued strikes might backfire and instead accelerate Tehran's nuclear ambitions. A White House official stated: "They will believe that the only way to prevent such strikes from happening again is to possess nuclear weapons. This means greater pressure for us to reach a concrete and enforceable agreement to ensure they cannot cross the nuclear threshold."
According toXinhua News AgencyIn a nationwide television address on April 1, Trump claimed the operation was "nearing completion" while threatening more intense strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure within the next two to three weeks.
He said, "We will bomb them back to the Stone Age."
However, in an interview with a weekly publication, he also suggested that Iran was "eager to negotiate." "Why don’t they call? We just blew up three of their bridges last night," he remarked. "They are being destroyed."
Game of Timetables: Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Trump
According to an Israeli official, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prefer to prolong the conflict, viewing it as a rare opportunity to weaken a common adversary. However, they also recognize that their room for maneuver depends on Trump’s timetable.
On February 11, Netanyahu traveled to Washington for several hours of private talks with Trump. According to someone present, Netanyahu told Trump: "We have come this far, Donald. We must finish what we started."
Trump stated in an interview: "They will do as I say. The Israelis are excellent team players. When I stop, they stop."
The Logic Behind Trump’s "Exit Strategy"
According to information obtained by CCTV reporters on March 30 local time, U.S. officials revealed that President Trump had signaled to aides his willingness to end military action against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed.
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff described the approach to this conflict as an extension of 'maintaining option flexibility' throughout Trump’s business career.
"Donald Trump always has multiple exit strategies," Witkoff once told colleagues at the White House and the State Department. "He keeps a wide range of options and exit routes open, then navigates his way through the process."
However, wars have their own logic, which often exceeds the president’s control. A White House official compared the current situation to 'whack-a-mole'—eliminating one group of leaders while having to search for the next viable alternative.
The central challenge for Trump now is how to achieve an honorable conclusion without appearing to 'gain too little.'
Editor/Melody