President Donald Trump has reportedly grown increasingly frustrated as the conflict with Iran enters its sixth month, with a new NBC News report claiming the president has become exasperated over the lack of progress and ongoing disagreements within his national security team.
According to an exclusive report published Wednesday by NBC News, Trump recently erupted during a meeting with senior national security officials as divisions inside the administration continue over how to move forward in the conflict.
Citing a U.S. official and other people familiar with the discussions, the report describes an administration that remains split on both priorities and long-term objectives.
One U.S. official told NBC News that there is little agreement among top officials despite months of military operations.
“After all this time, there is no unity,” the official said.
The report alleges that Trump became angry during a meeting with his national security team last week, raising his voice and using expletives while expressing frustration over what he viewed as a lack of progress in Iran.
According to NBC News, officials remain divided over the administration’s primary objective. Some reportedly believe the focus should remain on preventing Iran from advancing its nuclear program, while others favor prioritizing the protection of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Another group is said to support concentrating efforts on weakening Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities.
The reported disagreements have fueled concerns among some officials about the administration’s broader strategy.
One official told NBC News that while the United States has achieved “a series of tactical victories,” the administration now risks “facing a strategic defeat without clear policy guidance or a decision about where this is going.”
The report also cited a person described as being close to Trump, who said the president has become increasingly discouraged by Iran’s unwillingness to reach an agreement.
“The president is exasperated,” the ally told NBC News. “I don’t think he believed it was going to be this difficult to get the Iranians to agree to a deal.”
The same person added that there was not “a real strategy” outlining how long the conflict might continue or what steps would ultimately bring it to a conclusion.
“He did not intend this to be a long, drawn-out war,” the ally said.
The White House, however, strongly disputed key portions of the report.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected the claim that Trump lost his temper during the meeting, telling NBC News that the account was inaccurate.
“This is false,” Leavitt said. “The president has a great team whom he trusts, and everyone on the team knows he’s the final decision-maker.”
Leavitt also defended the administration’s approach toward Iran, saying the president remains committed to responding to actions by Tehran.
“He is not going to stand by as they break the MOU, kill our soldiers and fire at our ships in the strait,” she told NBC News. “So until that behavior changes, his behavior will not change.”
She concluded by emphasizing that Trump remains prepared to continue applying pressure on Iran.
“He’s locked and loaded to keep punishing Iran,” Leavitt said.
The conflicting accounts leave two sharply different portrayals of the administration’s handling of the conflict. While NBC News reported that internal divisions and presidential frustration have intensified as the war continues into its sixth month, the White House maintains that Trump has confidence in his national security team and remains firmly in control of the administration’s response to Iran.
