President Donald Trump is “probably in panic mode” over the missing U.S. pilot in Iran and two downed aircraft, according to John Bolton, his former national security adviser-turned fierce critic.
Two American warplanes were shot down in separate incidents Friday as a search and rescue mission was launched to find the F-15 crew member who was forced to eject. An A-10 attack plane was reportedly hit in the Persian Gulf region, and the pilot was rescued after making it to Kuwaiti airspace, officials said.
Trump has not been seen publicly since he addressed the nation late Wednesday, but he warned Iran that “time is running out” in a Truth Social post Saturday morning.
“It sounds to me like he’s probably back in a panic mode,” Bolton speculated Friday night to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “Wishing he could find a way to declare victory and get out of this war, regardless of whether or not he opens the Strait of Hormuz before he does it.”
Trump told The Independent that he is not yet ready to say what the U.S. will do if Iranian forces get to the downed airman first. “We hope that’s not going to happen,” the president said in a brief phone call Friday.
Bolton, who has been a vocal critic of Trump since he was fired by him in 2019, accused the president and his administration of a lack of “effective decision-making” heading into the war.
“I think if there had been an effective decision-making process before the war started and these concerns were raised and they bothered the president, he had the option then not to initiate the attack. But apparently he was satisfied,” Bolton said.
The president previously said Iran’s anti-aircraft equipment was destroyed, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bragged that the U.S. had “dominated the skies” in Operation Epic Fury.
Bolton told Collins that Friday’s events, coupled with previous brags of the Trump administration, “degrades White House credibility.”
“If you overstate what you’ve accomplished and evidence comes that shows that you’ve overstated, you look foolish,” Bolton said.
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump did not directly reference the missing U.S. pilot in a Truth Social post Saturday morning, but warned Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he said, appearing to confuse the use of “rain” with “reign.”
Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command claimed the regime had used a new air defense system to target the U.S. fighter jet.
A spokesperson for the joint military command Saturday that the country would “definitely achieve full control” over its airspace, according to Iranian state media.
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