White House officials and insiders are growing increasingly worried that President Donald Trump may soon move forward with an idea they fear could “plunge the U.S. and global economy off a steep cliff,” Zeteo reported Sunday, and one that could be executed “as soon as within the coming days.”
Trump’s idea, as he told Axios last week, was to stage a “massive attack” on Iran and reignite the conflict in a bid to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table on terms more favorable to Washington. However, “practically everyone in Trump’s inner circle” believes Trump’s plan is doomed to fail, Zeteo reported after speaking with multiple White House insiders.
“Terrible f------ idea,” one White House adviser told Zeteo regarding their thoughts on Trump’s plan, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“Trump has no f------ way out,” a senior administration official told Zeteo, also speaking on the condition of anonymity.
A third White House official, also speaking anonymously, told Zeteo there was "almost no scenario where Americans don't die" if Trump moves forward. And yet, despite the apparent consensus among Trump’s inner circle that further escalation would be unwise, one major "problem” persisted.
“[The vast majority of Trump’s most senior advisers are] too scared to just say it to the president,” a U.S. official told Zeteo, also under the condition of anonymity. “No one is just telling Trump this won’t work… They soft-sell it or tone it down when they talk to the president about this, when what they all should be doing is telling him that none of this is going to work and it will destroy everything he’s worked for.”
The White House insiders’ fears were further supported by recent reporting from The New York Times about a secret meeting on Friday between Trump and his top advisers, during which the majority of those close to Trump advised against intensifying attacks on Iran.
