President Donald Trump has suddenly ducked out of sight after launching a military operation against Iran, according to reports.
The 79-year-old president approved Operation Epic Fury over the weekend, but he has so far offered only brief public remarks and on-the-record phone calls to more than a dozen reporters, and Bloomberg columnist Nia-Malika Henderson wondered why he'd seemingly grown camera shy.
"His absence has been noticed and could pose a problem as he tries to convince Americans, who are largely skeptical of his handling of foreign affairs, that the war with Iran is worth the fight," Henderson wrote.
Trump veered off-script at a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House to comment on some drapes that covered the entrance to the ballroom he's building, but he did not take questions from reporters at all on a day where the death toll for Americans rose to six so far.
"The moment highlighted why live appearances might become problematic for the White House," Henderson wrote. "But it is at odds with what Americans deserve and have come to expect in a time of war. And it marks a notable contrast from a president who has turned routine signings of executive orders into free-wheeling Oval Office press conferences — events he has used as proof that he remains sharp, unlike his predecessor Joe Biden."
Trump appeared to have a red rash on his neck, raising new concerns about his health and fitness, but Henderson said Americans wanted and deserved more answers directly from the president about his decision to launch what many believe will be a protracted conflict.
"Americans and lawmakers are looking for more clarity as the conflict with Iran widens, with real consequences for those who serve," Henderson wrote. "Americans deserve a fuller explanation and more engagement from Trump about the chaotic and violent images coming out of the Middle East. And much more empathy for the hurt and fallen."