President Trump's mixed signals on Iran are leaving his own advisers uncertain about U.S. strategy, according to senior officials who spoke to Axios. The president's off-the-cuff remarks and Truth Social posts create confusion that can have significant consequences for ongoing conflicts and financial markets.
Trump's approach appears to involve keeping options open while improvising rather than following a clear plan, according to multiple aides and allies. Some officials say they've been convinced at different points that Trump was leaning toward major escalation, while at other times believing he wanted swift resolution. A senior adviser noted that "nobody knows in the end what he's really thinking."