‘Trump bored with Iran, wants to move on’: White House officials concerned by US’ premature claims of victory in Iran

As the United States deepens its military involvement in Iran, President Donald Trump has been publicly acting as if the conflict is already behind him.Even as thousands of additional troops are being sent to the Middle East and tensions remain high, Trump has repeatedly signaled that he sees the war as effectively over — a posture that has unsettled some senior White House aides and outside allies, according to three people who spoke to MS NOW.They described Trump’s public messaging as confusing, internally inconsistent and increasingly detached from battlefield reality.Trump’s claim that the war is already won is “mostly hyperbole,” according to a senior White House official who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the administration’s thinking.“It’s part [of Trump] just wanting to declare victory and move on.”That impulse, the official said, has become more noticeable in recent days. “[Trump] is getting a little bored with Iran,” the official said. “Not that he regrets it or something — he’s just bored and wants to move on.”A second White House official, also anonymous, said Trump has already begun shifting his focus away from the conflict and toward the economy, domestic issues and the upcoming midterm elections.But for many inside and outside the administration, the war is far from over.According to a previously unreported intelligence assessment cited by Reuters, the United States has destroyed roughly a third of Iran’s missile arsenal, offering the clearest picture yet of the impact of nearly a month of sustained US-Israeli strikes.At the same time, tensions remain high. The United States and Iran are continuing to exchange proposals through intermediaries, but the situation on the ground — and at the Strait of Hormuz — continues to deteriorate.On Thursday, Trump posted on Truth Social that the “Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange.’” He also wrote that they are “ ‘begging’ us to make a deal.” Iranian regime officials have repeatedly denied that claim.Some current and former Trump officials say Trump’s messaging has not kept pace with the reality of the conflict.Trump prematurely claiming victory despite the evidence is not new. He used a similar approach after the 2020 election, when he made unsubstantiated claims of massive voter fraud to explain his loss to Joe Biden. But allies say that approach lands differently in wartime.“He has learned he can tell the American people his feeling, and, with enough time, the American people will accept his lie,” the former Trump White House official said. “Just telling us the war is won isn’t good enough. We need to see it; we need to feel it.”That disconnect has also become visible in the White House’s communications strategy, which some officials say has made the conflict look less like a war and more like online content.In recent weeks, official White House social media accounts have used internet memes to promote the conflict, including clips from movies like “Iron Man” and “Top Gun,” cartoon characters such as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and rap music placed over unclassified footage of bombs striking Iranian targets.For some inside the White House, that approach has become a major, though mostly quiet, source of tension.“The war videos are cringe and disrespectful and gross,” the senior White House official told MS NOW. “It makes me feel embarrassed.”Others who spoke with MS NOW also questioned the value of the administration’s online messaging.“The social media post of bombs being dropped, OK, cool, but what do we get out of this?” said a former official in the Trump White House, who was also granted anonymity.When asked for comment, White House communications director Steven Cheung defended the strategy and dismissed the criticism. “The memes will continue and there isn’t a damn thing this person can do about it because they have no influence. This person clearly isn’t in the room and is a low-level staffer.”The second White House official offered a defense of the administration’s broader communications approach, saying there is a distinction between the White House’s two main messaging channels. According to that official, the administration’s official accounts in Trump’s second term have leaned more heavily into viral content, while Trump’s Truth Social account has served as the more substantive platform for policy and communication.That same official also said there is a clear “divide” among White House officials over how to handle messaging as the war drags on.All of the current and former Trump White House officials who spoke with MS NOW under anonymity said they do not share these opinions openly inside the White House because they fear consequences.“So many people are afraid of being on the outs that they are just drinking the Kool-Aid and going along with it,” said the former White House official.