U.S. Media: Trump Publicly Displays Arrogance, But Internally Feels Fear

April 19 (Wall Street Journal) — U.S. President Donald Trump appears to have lost his “appetite for risk” amid growing anxiety, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Earlier, when told a U.S. aircraft had been shot down in Iran and two pilots were missing shortly thereafter — in the nearly empty White House West Wing — Trump yelled at his aides for hours, repeatedly fuming, “The Europeans didn’t help at all.” People who’ve spoken with Trump say memories of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis have haunted him. After the pilots were rescued, the president again took a gamble, targeting Iran’s biggest leverage: control of the Strait of Hormuz. He then tweeted, “Open up the strait, you fools.” Known for craving dramatic moments, Trump brought his unorthodox, radical approach to potential conflict in even more extreme fashion. He toggled between bellicose posturing and diplomatic outreach, but privately, he fixated on how bad the situation could get. He feared ordering U.S. forces into harm’s way — risking casualties or soldiers not returning home — a concern shared by other presidents who’ve faced wartime decisions.