Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

highplainsdem

(62,910 posts)
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:06 PM Apr 19

Trump kept out of the room during operation to find downed pilots in Iran after 'screaming' at aides for hours, report

Source: Independent

Trump kept out of the room during operation to find downed pilots in Iran after ‘screaming’ at aides for hours, report says

When President Donald Trump learned that two American pilots had gone missing in Iran on Good Friday, he “screamed at aides for hours” and was then “kept out of the room” while his team was given minute-by-minute updates, according to a report.

An F-15 fighter jet was shot down over Iran on April 3, prompting a high-stakes rescue mission for the missing airmen. One crew member was swiftly rescued by U.S. forces after ejecting before the aircraft went down - but the second crew member spent more than 24 hours behind enemy lines before he was safely extracted.

Back in Washington, D.C., Trump’s fears about how the war was playing out “were ramping up,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

-snip-

“Aides kept the president out of the room as they got minute-by-minute updates because they believed his impatience wouldn’t be helpful,” the official told the newspaper.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-screamed-aides-missing-pilots-iran-b2960603.html

60 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump kept out of the room during operation to find downed pilots in Iran after 'screaming' at aides for hours, report (Original Post) highplainsdem Apr 19 OP
Trump desperately craves affection and praise, yet not one photo op w the supposed rescued 2nd pilot - suspicious, no?? NoMoreRepugs Apr 19 #1
He wants to be the bride at every wedding, displacedvermoter Apr 19 #3
I'd be okay with the corpse thing RandomNumbers Apr 19 #34
Never crossed my mind... displacedvermoter Apr 19 #39
Maybe the second pilot had some derogatory things to say about the Iranian War fiasco. magicarpet Apr 19 #5
OR...there was no second pilot NCDem47 Apr 19 #15
The shot down plane has 2 crewmembers...1 pilot, 1 back seat weapons/radar operator nt EX500rider Apr 19 #33
Why does the "Pentagon's Rescue Story" of the 2nd pilot strain most folks0lks credulity ? magicarpet Apr 20 #57
or maybe the second pilot wasn't a white male DBoon Apr 20 #55
I still think it was someone who for, displacedvermoter Apr 19 #40
Why isn't he parading them around as heros? Unless he wanted them dead forsome reason? Srkdqltr Apr 19 #2
He prefers them before they get shot down UpInArms Apr 19 #8
Oh my.. trDUMP would then find them defective human beings who should be hidden,... magicarpet Apr 20 #59
Might it be that their remarks would mtairyguy Apr 19 #18
Exactly Farmer-Rick Apr 19 #27
So now his staff are actively conspiring against him? Do tell.... FakeNoose Apr 19 #4
What does that say about who is actually making decisions and running the country? Lonestarblue Apr 19 #9
i'm suspecting the "major decisions" are coming from grok rampartd Apr 19 #30
It actually makes me feel a little better knowing the staff stepped in questionseverything Apr 20 #49
I'm sure Donny was very, very concerned--about what that would do to his approval ratings. tanyev Apr 19 #6
I'm sure they could still hear the screams through the blanket walls of the situation room. Hugin Apr 19 #7
He wanted the pilots found... GiqueCee Apr 19 #10
+1. He should fire the producer dalton99a Apr 19 #11
Who has the power to keep Trump out of a room he wants to be in? karynnj Apr 19 #12
Exactly that - keep him occupied elsewhere. TBF Apr 19 #13
Keep him busy with fabric swatches and marble samples... EarthFirst Apr 19 #14
I'd think Wiles and Miller can talk him into staying away underpants Apr 19 #22
They just dangled some shiny keys in front of him. Ray Bruns Apr 20 #54
"kept out of the room" Talitha Apr 19 #16
"Downed pilots" angrychair Apr 19 #17
The pilots have never been identified AFAIK. 50 Shades Of Blue Apr 19 #23
I can't 100% latch on to that theory BUT we all do remember Pvt. Jessica Lynch underpants Apr 19 #24
Hegseth probably has an opinion about her. Grokenstein Apr 19 #35
Our dog barks when confused too. twodogsbarking Apr 19 #19
And then there's Kash, who they had to break in on because he was passed-out drunk unconscious. NBachers Apr 19 #20
Do we KNOW either of them have been extracted? AllyCat Apr 19 #21
Pilots are generally bright and can think fast when a situation needs action beyond 'the book' They have to if they live Attilatheblond Apr 19 #36
Keeping TSF out of room good idea under all circumstances. Sneederbunk Apr 19 #25
There's only one room I want him in, evolves Apr 19 #46
Why does this 'rescue' site look like Desert One? BidenRocks Apr 19 #26
Then there was this BS story about how the aircraft were stuck in the mud. Crowman2009 Apr 20 #53
Grampy had himself another poopy fit? Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Apr 19 #28
Karoline Leavitt told The Journal that Trump had "remained a steady leader our country needs." BlueWaveNeverEnd Apr 19 #29
Can't wait for the musical "TRUMP" BaronChocula Apr 19 #31
He just can't stand not being the center of attention JoseBalow Apr 19 #32
Every attempt he makes to get himself out of a mess he created just creates a bigger mess Attilatheblond Apr 19 #37
Just the sort of person we want in office to receive that 3 AM phone call. Martin68 Apr 19 #38
Good for them. Trump is a big Blabbermouth! riversedge Apr 19 #41
Was Trump concerned for the pilot, or for how this might look bad? Martin Eden Apr 19 #42
No one single thing he does is helpful. efhmc Apr 19 #43
You would think bdamomma Apr 19 #44
This, in and of itself, shows that Trump is deemed incompetent by his own team and that he is being manipulated. hamsterjill Apr 19 #45
They know that stupid fuck can't keep his fat yap shut Blue Owl Apr 19 #47
His whole cabinet needs to be held accountable and imprisoned too. BigmanPigman Apr 20 #48
I don't think that future historians will wonder.. wnylib Apr 20 #52
I wish I could time travel 100 years in the future BigmanPigman Apr 20 #58
Same here. wnylib Apr 20 #60
On 09-11-2001, Cheney and his wife were in a secure operations room. John1956PA Apr 20 #50
I remember a DUer saying Trump wasn't absent, he was "busy overseeing the rescue operation" Skittles Apr 20 #51
He could not keep his mouth shut, leanforward Apr 20 #56

NoMoreRepugs

(12,212 posts)
1. Trump desperately craves affection and praise, yet not one photo op w the supposed rescued 2nd pilot - suspicious, no??
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:08 PM
Apr 19

displacedvermoter

(4,935 posts)
3. He wants to be the bride at every wedding,
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:15 PM
Apr 19

the corpse at every funeral, and apparently the downed aviator at every rescue mission!

magicarpet

(19,267 posts)
5. Maybe the second pilot had some derogatory things to say about the Iranian War fiasco.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:22 PM
Apr 19

And they did not want this pilot to voice his objections in public.

magicarpet

(19,267 posts)
57. Why does the "Pentagon's Rescue Story" of the 2nd pilot strain most folks0lks credulity ?
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 03:38 PM
Apr 20

A secret audacious mission to go get the 2nd downed pilot or a secret mission to get remaining processed uranium still buried under ground since the last Israeli/USA bombing runs from last summer - June 2025 ?

++++++++++

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Israeli and U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities obliterated the program, but early intelligence assessments and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggest that the program may only have been set back a matter of months.

Link,.... https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2025-07/news/israel-and-us-strike-irans-nuclear-program

++++++++++

The "Pilot Rescue" mission some say was an elaborate plan to confiscate any processed uranium buried underground with the centrifuges at the lab. Get that uranium and spirit it out of Iran to neutralize at a processing facility.

Thing is on this secret covert mission the US military used two large
C-130s, lots of other military equipment, and lots of soldiers went on this secret mission. These C-130 planes were the more heavy extraction team model with lots of equipment aboard. These planes were landed in the desert close to the formerly bombed out Iranian lab.

Due to excess weight the C-130 planes tires got stuck in the sand. And the wind of the jet engines kicked up a lot of desert sand and damaged the jet engines. The C-130s were rendered useless. The mission to dig up the processed uranium and remove it from the country of Iran was aborted.
The top secret extraction equipment on the C-130s could not be left behind because of security concerns. It was best decided to blow up the two C-130s to smithereens. So no trace of the top secret stuff fell into the hands of the enemy.

The Iranians knew that a large contingent of US soldiers were at this location on Iranian land and were quickly headed to that location. So the America military blew up the planes and got the fuck outta there.

Oh yes,... The second pilot... the US military reported that he was found hiding in a cave. They rescued him they say. And brought by I'm out safely.

The 2nd pilot rescue story disappeared from the media in a matter of days.

The 2nd pilot has never been interviewed by the media.

A photo of the second pilot has never been seen in the media.

But there is no reason to doubt President trDUMPee,... he has always only uttered the truth. There is no mention of the rescued pilot or access to this pilot to provide him a chance to explain this harrowing experience to the public. Nor has any photograph of this pilot been made available. Whiskey Pete - Kegsbreath has always been honest and forthcoming with the American public. Pete has only uttered the truth and any reports from the Pentagon have been accurate and reliable.

These two clowns like to brag their brains out about how the military has improved since their taking over. How professional the new military hss become. How trDUMP has created such A magnificent fighting force.

Why wouldn't they be hyper eager to brag a out every detail of this pilots rescued ? except they seem to want to only sweep the pilot rescue episode under the rug. This was a perfect opportunity to brag how they out maneuvered, out classed, and pulled a fast one in Iran's fucking backyard. But barely be peep mostly just the sound of only crickets.

Something does not seem kosher here. Why did these braggarts bury this story in such haste ?

++++++++++
++++++++++

The international media is kicking the above story around - wondering too why the Pentagon rescued 2nd pilot story just does not make much sense.

+++++++++++

https://m.economictimes.com/news/new-updates/did-us-try-to-steal-uranium-in-iran-under-guise-of-f-15-pilot-rescue-mission-170-plane-operation-raises-questions/articleshow/130076650.cms

displacedvermoter

(4,935 posts)
40. I still think it was someone who for,
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 03:46 PM
Apr 19

whatever reason, was not supposed to be up there.

I once became aware of an incident at the beginning of Desert Shield/Desert Storm when a new wing commander (O-6) went up in one of his B-52s in the copilot slot, in the first wave of strikes. He was not supposed to be up there cause he knew some really crucial stuff, and he could have been a real prize if captured.

I never found out the upshot of the incident, but have wondered about this since the news broke.

Srkdqltr

(9,894 posts)
2. Why isn't he parading them around as heros? Unless he wanted them dead forsome reason?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:12 PM
Apr 19

This whole thing is idiotic.

UpInArms

(55,277 posts)
8. He prefers them before they get shot down
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:42 PM
Apr 19

And, heaven forbid if they are black or in some way injured … can’t be seen with those types

magicarpet

(19,267 posts)
59. Oh my.. trDUMP would then find them defective human beings who should be hidden,...
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 03:56 PM
Apr 20

.... from "White People's" view. Mustn't place my wife and female children in jeopardy.

mtairyguy

(39 posts)
18. Might it be that their remarks would
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:06 PM
Apr 19

…be something less than complimentary to trump? Might they actually question the mission or its planning?

Lonestarblue

(13,559 posts)
9. What does that say about who is actually making decisions and running the country?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:44 PM
Apr 19

It seems that if Trump is not sleeping through meetings where major decisions are being made or throwing screaming temper tantrums, then someone else is in charge. He needs to be removed before he launches nuclear war!

rampartd

(4,897 posts)
30. i'm suspecting the "major decisions" are coming from grok
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 02:00 PM
Apr 19

it needs to be unplugged before it launches

questionseverything

(11,923 posts)
49. It actually makes me feel a little better knowing the staff stepped in
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 01:17 AM
Apr 20

So the service men could be rescued

tanyev

(49,573 posts)
6. I'm sure Donny was very, very concerned--about what that would do to his approval ratings.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:30 PM
Apr 19

😒

Hugin

(37,958 posts)
7. I'm sure they could still hear the screams through the blanket walls of the situation room.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:34 PM
Apr 19

Hindsight is 20/20, maybe they should have sent him out to the course to hit some dropped balls.

karynnj

(61,074 posts)
12. Who has the power to keep Trump out of a room he wants to be in?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:52 PM
Apr 19

Other than not telling him where they are really meeting and having a decoy team meet with Trump to keep him occupied, how is this possible.

TBF

(37,084 posts)
13. Exactly that - keep him occupied elsewhere.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:57 PM
Apr 19

He doesn't really know how things work, so it's probably not that hard to divert his attention.

EarthFirst

(4,207 posts)
14. Keep him busy with fabric swatches and marble samples...
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:02 PM
Apr 19

…it’s probably far easier than we could imagine.

underpants

(197,037 posts)
22. I'd think Wiles and Miller can talk him into staying away
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:28 PM
Apr 19

and as mentioned below, they probably distracted him fabric swaths and marble samples for the ballroom or the Kennedy Center

angrychair

(12,462 posts)
17. "Downed pilots"
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:05 PM
Apr 19

There is serious concerns that there never were any downed pilots but this was an operation to seize uranium from Iran.

Did they ever release the names of the downed pilot and navigator?
Ranks?
Cities or states they were from?

Medical condition?

Just asking questions.

50 Shades Of Blue

(11,494 posts)
23. The pilots have never been identified AFAIK.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:35 PM
Apr 19

Which is why I think the rescue story is bullshit.

underpants

(197,037 posts)
24. I can't 100% latch on to that theory BUT we all do remember Pvt. Jessica Lynch
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:35 PM
Apr 19

She’s 42 now and seems to be doing well. She was used by Dick&W and an overzealous press.

As of late 2025, Jessica Lynch, 42, is a motivational speaker, advocate for women veterans, and substitute teacher living in West Virginia. A former POW rescued in 2003, she holds degrees in education and communication, works with the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance, and travels to share her story of resilienc




https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Lynch

Grokenstein

(6,408 posts)
35. Hegseth probably has an opinion about her.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 02:32 PM
Apr 19

"Fuggin' (hic) DEI, maaaan. DEI h-hi-hire. Woooo! (vomits) No wa-wa-warrior spirit. Gimme another!!"

NBachers

(19,548 posts)
20. And then there's Kash, who they had to break in on because he was passed-out drunk unconscious.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:10 PM
Apr 19

AllyCat

(18,968 posts)
21. Do we KNOW either of them have been extracted?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:22 PM
Apr 19

Because it seems there are no interviews or news reports about or with them.

Attilatheblond

(9,181 posts)
36. Pilots are generally bright and can think fast when a situation needs action beyond 'the book' They have to if they live
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 02:45 PM
Apr 19

Seems plausible that if there were downed airmen, and they were rescued, they might not be amiable to saying good things about the crazy idiot who started the war.

BidenRocks

(3,461 posts)
26. Why does this 'rescue' site look like Desert One?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:44 PM
Apr 19

C 130s destroyed is never a good sign of success.
Was that the blueprint for this fiasco?
The Wizzo likely died and it's a cover-up!
The pilot?
I do not trust our government to provide truthful, accurate information about anything!

Crowman2009

(3,583 posts)
53. Then there was this BS story about how the aircraft were stuck in the mud.
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 07:21 AM
Apr 20

Last time I checked, Iran was under a severe drought and that ground those downed MC-130s were on didn't look very muddy to me.

BaronChocula

(4,698 posts)
31. Can't wait for the musical "TRUMP"
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 02:01 PM
Apr 19

I have an idea for a song.

They kept him out of the room where it happened
The room where it happened
The room where it happened


Attilatheblond

(9,181 posts)
37. Every attempt he makes to get himself out of a mess he created just creates a bigger mess
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 03:00 PM
Apr 19

Somewhat comforting to know there are a few people in there who know that and actually worked to get info to solve the problem rather than letting Mr Rash Judgement get involved and make it a mess none of them would survive.

Martin Eden

(15,841 posts)
42. Was Trump concerned for the pilot, or for how this might look bad?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 05:02 PM
Apr 19

You don't have to answer that question. It was rhetorical.

hamsterjill

(17,722 posts)
45. This, in and of itself, shows that Trump is deemed incompetent by his own team and that he is being manipulated.
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 06:39 PM
Apr 19

If the "aides" can keep him out of a room in the White House, then what else do they keep him from doing/not doing?

Paging Stephen Miller...

BigmanPigman

(55,467 posts)
48. His whole cabinet needs to be held accountable and imprisoned too.
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 12:56 AM
Apr 20

In 100 years historians will look at this period in amazement and wonder why no body did shit to stop him. Every single government worker who has enabled his insane destruction at a world wide level should be seen as the classic "Benedict Arnolds" of this century.

wnylib

(26,381 posts)
52. I don't think that future historians will wonder..
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 06:30 AM
Apr 20

By that time the influence of his enablers and the enablers themselves will be long gone. With nobody to obscure the truth, historians will be able to put together the facts from remnants of evidence.

Records of stock market changes, Trump statements, that influenced the market and Trump family wealth growth will tell that story.

The handlers and criminals will not be able to hide all the facts. There will be records of broadcasts. There will be books. There will be records in other countries.

Future historians will be able to put together who worked behind the scenes and why.

John1956PA

(5,094 posts)
50. On 09-11-2001, Cheney and his wife were in a secure operations room.
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 05:06 AM
Apr 20

Richard Clarke wanted the large monitor to display intelligence feeds. Mrs. Cheney insisted that the monitor be tuned to CNN.

I am going by my memory in supplying the foregoing anecdote. I am sure that I read it somewhere shortly after 9-11. It may not be true.

Of interest is that the room might have been the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. That room was beneath The East Wing, all of which is now gone because of Trump.

leanforward

(1,140 posts)
56. He could not keep his mouth shut,
Mon Apr 20, 2026, 12:50 PM
Apr 20

about what was being done behind the scenes. This was an ongoing recovery. If you are allowed in, you watch and listen and STFU when outside the SCIF.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Trump kept out of the roo...