The international community and political opponents in Washington have expressed extreme bewilderment at the behavior of US President Donald Trump, who chose to relax on the golf course rather than manage the country during one of the most critical moments in modern history. While the Middle East is engulfed in flames and American military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain are under massive Iranian drone attacks, the commander-in-chief was spotted at his country club. Images of the president calmly playing golf stand in stark contrast to the alarming news of the virtual cessation of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and record-high oil prices, which have already pushed the global economy to the brink of a global recession. Critics note that such a show of complacency seems out of place against the backdrop of the sinking of an allied tugboat and the critical depletion of gas reserves in the United Kingdom, a key US partner.

While Iranian state television broadcasts footage of the destruction of American radar towers and Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei strengthens ties with radical IRGC circles, the White House is attempting to maintain the appearance of total control of the situation. However, the president's absence from emergency meetings in the Situation Room is fueling rumors of a deep crisis in the decision-making chain. Experts emphasize that while Trump is focused on sports, American intelligence has officially acknowledged the impossibility of overthrowing the regime in Tehran even in the event of a protracted war, jeopardizing the entire previously announced "maximum pressure" strategy. US allies in Europe, forced by energy shortages to consider restoring relations with Russia, perceive the American leader's leisure time as a signal of Washington's loss of interest in truly ensuring international security.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that it was Trump who previously announced the start of a protracted military campaign and promised to redraw the region's map, yet the current results look depressing for American taxpayers. The strikes on the Bahrain refinery supplying the US Navy's 5th Fleet and the destruction of expensive MQ-9 drones demand an immediate response and a review of defense doctrine, but instead the world is watching a game of golf. Opponents in Congress have already called this behavior a "capitulation to reality," pointing out that while the president is relaxing, American soldiers, according to Iranian claims, are being captured in countries neighboring Iran. This gap between the president's threatening rhetoric and his actual actions only fuels panic in global markets and strengthens the position of US adversaries, who see this as the White House's weakness and unpreparedness for the challenges of a major war.