U.S. President Donald Trump responded with fury and frustration after a US jet was shot down over Iran, shouting at advisers “for hours” as the fate of the two crew members remained unknown, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

According to sources, images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis loomed in his mind. “The Europeans aren’t helping,” he repeated during those hours.

Trump demanded that the US Army immediately carry out an operation to rescue the crew. However, with no US forces on the ground in Iran, the military first had to formulate a complex plan to operate in enemy territory.

A senior administration official said that advisers kept Trump out of the room while the plan was being discussed, providing updates only at critical points to ensure his impatience didn’t cloud the decision-making process.

According to the report, Trump had been wary of putting US boots on Iranian grounds, including a proposal to seize Kharg Island, saying that the soldiers would be “sitting ducks.”

His decision to enter the war in the first place surprised many due to his previous statements about wanting to avoid entanglement in Middle East conflicts.

However, after a February briefing from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, persistent pressure from the Saudi Crown Prince, and repeated discussions with supporters, including Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, Trump told advisers he trusted the military to carry out the operation.

According to the report, Trump did not make much effort to build public support for the war and grew frustrated by what he deemed as a lack of recognition for U.S. actions. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s frustration stemmed from unfair media coverage.

However, Trump was convinced of the value of a U.S. battle against Iran. Two senior officials told WSJ that Trump believes that a victory over Iran could allow him to reshape the global order.

At the start of the war, Trump told advisers: “If we do this right, we’re saving the world.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)