President Donald Trump told acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan this week that he didn’t want to go to war with Iran, according to a Thursday New York Times report.
Despite saber-rattling by Trump administration officials like National Security Adviser John Bolton and State Secretary Mike Pompeo, Trump made it clear to Shanahan that he doesn’t want to escalate conflict with Iran into full-blown war.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that Trump was getting irritated with Bolton and Flynn for their “warlike” strategy with Iran.
“They are getting way out ahead of themselves, and Trump is annoyed,” an official told the Post. “There was a scramble for Bolton and Pompeo and others to get on the same page.”
Naturally, POTUS is denying any infighting and accusing the “Fake News” of making it up.
….Different opinions are expressed and I make a decisive and final decision – it is a very simple process. All sides, views, and policies are covered. I’m sure that Iran will want to talk soon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 15, 2019