WASHINGTON — President Trump ordered the assault on Iran whereas flying to Texas on Air Pressure One Friday — after which went on to bop to “Y.M.C.A.” at a rally and order “hamburgers for all” at Whataburger.
The precise timeline of Trump’s choice — launched by the Pentagon Monday — revealed that Trump informed the army to cripple Iran’s army and take out its management whereas on his technique to a rally forward of Texas’ main election.
The commander-in-chief had a direct, nine-word order for America’s army, Gen. Dan Raisin’ Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of employees, stated Monday.
“The president directed, and I quote, ‘Operation Epic Fury is authorized. No aborts. Good luck,’” Caine stated.
Trump’s command got here in at 3:38 p.m..
The president informed The Publish in an interview Monday that he made up his thoughts “after the ultimate talks” Thursday in Geneva, the place Iran’s international minister, Abbas Araghchi, insisted the nation had an “inalienable proper” to counterpoint uranium.
Press pool reviews from Trump’s Friday journey to Texas point out that US Central Command obtained Trump’s orders from Hegseth 12 minutes earlier than Air Pressure One landed at Corpus Christi Worldwide Airport.
Trump then traveled by motorcade to a close-by port — standing in entrance of an oil tanker from Venezuela as he took reporter questions.
At 4:30 p.m. ET, a reporter requested Trump, “How shut are you to creating a call on strikes?”
“I’d fairly not let you know. You’ll have had the best scoop in historical past, proper?” the president replied.
At 4:47 p.m., Trump took the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
He spoke for 59 minutes, saying “we now have a really huge choice to make” — earlier than shimmying off stage together with his signature dance to the Village Individuals traditional.
A short while later, Trump stopped by a Whataburger — a traditional Texas quick meals joint.
“So are these the most effective hamburgers?” he requested, as he mingled with employees and patrons.
“Hamburgers for all! Don’t eat an excessive amount of,” he stated.
Trump then flew to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Seaside, Fla., the place he mingled earlier than friends earlier than taping his announcement that the nation was at struggle.
It’s unclear if Trump’s nonchalant demeanor was supposed to present Iran a false sense of security.
Different indicators had indicated a strike may not be imminent — together with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s publicly introduced plans to journey to Israel on Monday and one other deliberate spherical of US-Iran talks anticipated to occur Monday in Vienna.
Iran’s Supreme Chief Ali Khamanei was killed in broad daylight Israeli strikes whereas holding an above-ground assembly with dozens of prime commanders — apparently taken fully unawares.
