Military made decisions without Trump being included

[Stryder50]

Why do you think issuing the results of the investigation is being delayed? Is it for the same reason the results from the investigation in to Pretti's murder haven't been released? You know, guilt.


AI Overview

Evidence indicates a U.S. airstrike hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran, on February 28, 2026, killing civilians, including children. Investigations by Amnesty International, The New York Times, and Bellingcat found that a Tomahawk missile caused extensive destruction, likely due to a targeting error that misidentified the school as part of an adjacent Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval base.

Supposedly only in the last year or two did the IRGC stop using the building and turn it over to the school.

 

[Stryder50]

Ridiculous. There is eye witness testimony, satellite imagery, recovered bomb fragments, photos of the destroyed building, international news coverage, and videos of the funeral procession.

This is simple. You just don't want to admit the US is responsible.

More like most of us doubt it was intentionally targeted as a known girls school.
This is the sort of mistake~collateral damage common to wars.
What is amazing is how there has been very little of this sort of mistake in comparison to previous wars/conflicts, especially given the numbers of missions flown and the tonnage dropped.

 

[Stryder50]

It is good to know that the brass does not worry Trump with things he does not get.

They did the same with Clinton's, Obama, and Biden; in most cases. Those Dems even more likely to "not get" based on their performance in office.

 

[Stryder50]

The difference between him and Biden would be, Biden wouldn't need to be there, Trump would want to be there and would have to be forced not to be there.

Yet our supposedly more responsible military leaders, JCCS, etc. didn't balk when Biden ordered to tuck tail and run away NOW, out of Afghanistan, leaving all those weapons and equipment for the Taliban to get and use. Worse yet is the sudden bail out on a supposed ally, the Afghan government we were working with, on short notice and with next to no safety net and evac plan for them.

After the chain of Democrat POTUS fug-ups with our military, not surprised they are suspicious of any political leader.

 

[Stryder50]

So a few days now since the OP popped up here, and so far only Wall Street Journal has this story. A couple other media outlets just repeat what the WSJ claims, so still no OTHER confirming source on this claim~myth~distortion.

Snopes comes closest to another, independent source, but ...

Unpacking WSJ report claiming aides kept Trump out of ...​

...
Because the report relied on an anonymous source, Snopes is unable to independently verify it.
...
We have reached out to the White House, the Wall Street Journal reporters and the U.S. Department of Defense and are waiting for responses. Snopes will update this report if, or when, additional information surfaces.
...
After Iran's forces reportedly shot down a U.S. war jet and two U.S. airmen went missing early April 2026, a claim spread online that aides of U.S. President Donald Trump kept him away from the White House Situation Room, where a team of military experts oversaw efforts to rescue the two pilots.

Posts sharing the claim multiplied on social media, including on Facebook, where one of them cited a "Trump meltdown" as the reason for keeping him away from the operation ...
...
The rumor spread further on Facebook, Reddit and X. Meanwhile, Snopes readers searched the website and emailed to verify whether it was true.

The claim stems from an April 18, 2026, Wall Street Journal report, which cited an unnamed "senior administration official" who allegedly revealed that aides chose to share updates with Trump rather than allow him in the situation room for fear his "impatience" would hinder the rescue mission.

Snopes could not independently verify the claim. We contacted the White House and Department of Defense for comment on the report's accuracy and requested corroborating information from Wall Street Journal reporters. We will update this story should they respond.
...
The Wall Street Journal said Trump was growing frustrated with the public's disapproval of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the fact that the Islamic regime's ability to resist the attacks and close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for tankers exporting oil from the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf.
...

Unpacking WSJ report claiming aides kept Trump out of Situation Room during rescue of two US airmen in Iran

The Wall Street Journal reported aides kept the U.S. President away from the room because they were worried he was too impatient.

www.snopes.com

So 140+ posts here, mostly chewing over the unconfirmed WSJ article of the OP.
A couple of lame efforts for additional confirmation turn out to be sources repeating the WSJ 'claim'.

This thread is looking like a tempest in teacup, lots of hand wringing, waving, shouting (internet style) much ado over little of substance.

Usual anti-Trump players trying hard to make a mountain out of a molehill ....

BTW, among the few dozen net search results listed, this thread was within the first 20, FWIW.

I sit back and wonder why I'm not surprised to be at this point ... again.

 

[konradv]

Obama's plan was a disaster !
One hair short of aiding and abetting an enemy.

Almost any other plan, or no plan, would have been better.

Take the ACA away and watch MAGA scream.

 

[jacksonlamb]

As a REMF, if at all true.

View attachment 1247151

If true, hopefully not in admin. Your spelling and grammar are atrocious. Not even 8th grade level.

11BP is a REMF? A grammar nazi makes you pathetic. Writing here is not the same as writing for the CoS.

 

[jacksonlamb]

So a few days now since the OP popped up here, and so far only Wall Street Journal has this story. A couple other media outlets just repeat what the WSJ claims, so still no OTHER confirming source on this claim~myth~distortion.

Snopes comes closest to another, independent source, but ...

Unpacking WSJ report claiming aides kept Trump out of ...​

...
Because the report relied on an anonymous source, Snopes is unable to independently verify it.
...
We have reached out to the White House, the Wall Street Journal reporters and the U.S. Department of Defense and are waiting for responses. Snopes will update this report if, or when, additional information surfaces.
...
After Iran's forces reportedly shot down a U.S. war jet and two U.S. airmen went missing early April 2026, a claim spread online that aides of U.S. President Donald Trump kept him away from the White House Situation Room, where a team of military experts oversaw efforts to rescue the two pilots.

Posts sharing the claim multiplied on social media, including on Facebook, where one of them cited a "Trump meltdown" as the reason for keeping him away from the operation ...
...
The rumor spread further on Facebook, Reddit and X. Meanwhile, Snopes readers searched the website and emailed to verify whether it was true.

The claim stems from an April 18, 2026, Wall Street Journal report, which cited an unnamed "senior administration official" who allegedly revealed that aides chose to share updates with Trump rather than allow him in the situation room for fear his "impatience" would hinder the rescue mission.

Snopes could not independently verify the claim. We contacted the White House and Department of Defense for comment on the report's accuracy and requested corroborating information from Wall Street Journal reporters. We will update this story should they respond.
...
The Wall Street Journal said Trump was growing frustrated with the public's disapproval of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and the fact that the Islamic regime's ability to resist the attacks and close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for tankers exporting oil from the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf.
...

Unpacking WSJ report claiming aides kept Trump out of Situation Room during rescue of two US airmen in Iran

The Wall Street Journal reported aides kept the U.S. President away from the room because they were worried he was too impatient.

www.snopes.com

So 140+ posts here, mostly chewing over the unconfirmed WSJ article of the OP.
A couple of lame efforts for additional confirmation turn out to be sources repeating the WSJ 'claim'.

This thread is looking like a tempest in teacup, lots of hand wringing, waving, shouting (internet style) much ado over little of substance.

Usual anti-Trump players trying hard to make a mountain out of a molehill ....

BTW, among the few dozen net search results listed, this thread was within the first 20, FWIW.

I sit back and wonder why I'm not surprised to be at this point ... again.

Now you rely on SNOPES?

 

[jacksonlamb]

So the military decided bomb the hell out of Iran, driving up the price of gas and so on.

 

[jacksonlamb]

They did the same with Clinton's, Obama, and Biden; in most cases. Those Dems even more likely to "not get" based on their performance in office.

 

[Lesh]

Dude, or dudess, you have no credibility on anything as far as I'm concerned. I know more about the military than you ever will.
Clue: no way your ignorance and hubris will help out me or others.

A couple years pulling KP duty does not make you a military expert

 

[22lcidw]

Take the ACA away and watch MAGA scream.

The real problem arises when once social legislation is passed, it is difficult to remove it. People get used to things and take it for granted. You guys pass the legislations then wipe your hands of it and move to the next one. Well, the costs keep rising and rising in them all. And massively more than they predicted when enacted. Medicare and Medicaid are just two examples and total around two trillion dollars total currently.

 

[jacksonlamb]

A couple years pulling KP duty does not make you a military expert

He spent time in the brig maybe? Nothing with KP. We all pulled it at one time and ate better on that shift.

 

[Stryder50]

Now you rely on SNOPES?

You have anything else to back up the pravda found on WSJ ?

 

[konradv]

The real problem arises when once social legislation is passed, it is difficult to remove it. People get used to things and take it for granted. You guys pass the legislations then wipe your hands of it and move to the next one. Well, the costs keep rising and rising in them all. And massively more than they predicted when enacted. Medicare and Medicaid are just two examples and total around two trillion dollars total currently.

Costs keep rising regardless. Maybe the rich can help out by not demanding tax cuts they don’t need.

 

[Stryder50]

11BP is a REMF? A grammar nazi makes you pathetic. Writing here is not the same as writing for the CoS.

It might, depending upon how you performed.
I'm not asking for your DD214. Or when (what years) you were in.
Infantryman can also become REMF.*
Writing here is different because you have a more diverse group in education, experience and nationality to present to.

*FYI since jacksonlamb declines to be informative;

United States military occupation code - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

ArmyMOS List​

US Army MOS List

 

[Stryder50]

A couple years pulling KP duty does not make you a military expert

Who's the last POTUS you would consider a "military expert"?

 

[jacksonlamb]

It might, depending upon how you performed.
I'm not asking for your DD214. Or when (what years) you were in.
Infantryman can also become REMF.*
Writing here is different because you have a more diverse group in education, experience and nationality to present to.

*FYI since jacksonlamb declines to be informative;

United States military occupation code - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

ArmyMOS List​

US Army MOS List

You sound like a moaner and a whiner. I hope I am wrong and that you served honorably if you did serve.

I am glad the brass is riding the ragged edge on Trump.

You clearly never worked in Brigade HQs or above.

 

[jacksonlamb]

Who's the last POTUS you would consider a "military expert"?

Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush all had extensive service in WWII. Kennedy and Bush had extensive combat service.

Trust the JCofS and brass, not Trump.

 

[Stryder50]

Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush all had extensive service in WWII. Kennedy and Bush had extensive combat service.

Trust the JCofS and brass, not Trump.

You didn't correctly answer my question.
I was asking about "military expert" not "experience".
By "expert" I'm looking for not only a working grasp of tactics, strategy and logistics, but also actual staff slots (S2, S3, etc.) and especially staff commander. i.e. the broad range of components a commander of say O4 and above should know.

Of those you mention and the others I added, only Eisenhower would fit the bill I just detailed. IMO
You want to make a case for any of the others being expert in the full range of attributes ?
...............

Eisenhower - Clearly the most experienced and distinguished of the lot;

A General of the Army, Eisenhower was the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force.

Dwight D. Eisenhower - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Commander of SHAEF

Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force - Wikipedia​

John F. Kennedy - One who had the most intense combat experience and showed outstanding courage in a challenging situation. As far as military and combat experience a close second to Ike.

John F. Kennedy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Lyndon B. Johnson - Though he was in Naval reserve at start of WWII, his barely eight months in uniform is rather lackluster. This episode may have been more hype than "hero"; ...

... Though accounts differ, Johnson's aircraft, a B-26 bomber ( a USAAF aircraft, not a Naval one), reportedly turned back before reaching the target due to mechanical trouble. Johnson's biographer Robert Caro was quoted as saying "I think that the weight of the evidence at this moment is that the plane was attacked by Zeroes and that he was cool under fire", but also "The fact is, LBJ never got within sight of Japanese forces. His combat experience was a myth."(LBJ was a passenger on this flight)

Lyndon B. Johnson - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

George H. W. Bush had a military career in WWII comparable to JFK's. Bush was a Naval aviator/pilot flying a torpedo bomber off an aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Shot down once and survived ok (his two crew members didn't) and would fly a total of 58 missions. Fairly commendable service. Post-war remained on inactive rooster until 1955.

George H. W. Bush - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Richard M. Nixon served as an officer in the Naval Reserve, working in Air Transport Command in the Pacific Theater. Though he didn't see combat, he was in a combat zone and did a commendable administrative job with directing air freight operations there.

Richard Nixon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Gerald R. Ford also served in the Naval Reserve during WWII. As an officer on an aircraft carrier he was "assistant navigator, Athletic Officer, and antiaircraft battery officer on board the new aircraft carrier USS Monterey (CVL-26). His ship did see combat in the Pacific and also rode through Typhoon Cobra.

Gerald Ford - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Ronald Reagan - In April 1937, Reagan enlisted in the United States Army Reserve., he later received a transfer to the United States Army Air Forces (AAF). Reagan became an AAF public relations officer ~ Throughout his military service, Reagan produced over 400 training films.

............

Military service can vary in what it entails, as we see a few future POTUS had significant combat experience along with leadership positions, Kennedy and Bush, and Ike leads the pack with high level command experience. The others had some degree of administrative~support services experiences. All were officers and most served in the Navy. All the above served during World War Two (WWII).

There are two other past POTUS with military experience, post WWII.

Jimmy Carter - Attended the Naval Academy and "He graduated 60th out of 821 midshipmen in the class of 1947 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as an ensign. He would mainly serve in submarines, and "In 1952, Carter began an association with the Navy's fledgling nuclear submarine program, led by then-Captain Hyman G. Rickover."

Jimmy Carter - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

George W. Bush (son of H.W.) - In May 1968, Bush joined the United States Air Force and was commissioned into the Texas Air National Guard. After two years of training in active-duty service, he was assigned to Houston, flying Convair F-102s with the 147th Reconnaissance Wing out of Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base.

...
In late 1972 and early 1973, he drilled with the 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard. He had moved to Montgomery, Alabama, to work on the unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Winton M. Blount. In 1972, Bush was suspended from flying for failure to take a scheduled physical exam. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force Reserve on November 21, 1974.

Bush remains the most recent president to have served in the military.

George W. Bush - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

..............
Carter might run a distant second to Ike, because of his technical training in nuclear power, but barely more administrative experience than the others.


"Trust the JCofS and brass." Can apply in some areas, such as the details of 'how to get a job/assignment done', but as CinC a POTUS is the final word on goals~objectives that should be achieved.

I will agree that the National Leader should not get involved in micro-managing "the battalions" so to speak. Also it is the duty of JCofS to give honest and accurate information on what really can be done and the costs of doing such. However, the Constitution is clear on the line of authority between POTUS~Civilian Leader versus Military Leader.

What the WSJ article was making a mountain out of a mole hill about is the sort of thing that should be SOP, no matter who the POTUS is. As many have already pointed out in posts already on this thread, the National Leader/POTUS doesn't need to be getting into the weeds of operations and the mechanics there of.

The CinC says what is to be done = goal/objective.
Staff then works out the details, and makes it happen. If the JCofS is smart enough for their jobs, they know how to "explain" the game plan to the CinC in a way the CinC won't find issue to obstruct with.