US military officials are putting together a daily video montage for President Donald Trump showing the most successful strikes on Iranian targets, according to a report. According to NBC News, which cited three current US officials and a former official, the updates represent the largest and most successful attacks on Iranian targets in the past 48 hours.
One official described the videos as a series of clips of “things blowing up”. Each montage usually lasts about two minutes, although some have been longer, according to the report.
Supplementary briefings
Trump’s video briefings aren’t the only source of updates. Officials told the newspaper that the president also receives information through interviews with top military and intelligence advisers, foreign leaders and intelligence reports.
Concerns about the “whole picture”
Some Trump allies have expressed concern that the president may not be getting the full picture of the war, now in its fourth week. “We can’t tell him every single thing that’s going to happen,” said one US official, adding that briefings focused on US victories tend to get better feedback from advisers.
Officials noted that the videos are shaping Trump’s perception of the conflict.
Trump is looking for a broad contribution
Despite the selective focus of the videos, officials said Trump continues to solicit input broadly. “Discussions about sensitive military operations are limited to a small group, but the president encourages every participant to think honestly,” one NBC official said. Trump frequently takes calls from outside advisers and hears their views on public opinion and the war.
Emphasis on US achievements
According to officials, the information Trump receives tends to highlight U.S. successes, with relatively little detail about Iran’s actions.
Frustration with media coverage
The daily videos reportedly fueled Trump’s frustration with how the war is being covered by the press. He privately asked why the media doesn’t highlight the same successes he sees in briefings. One official said Trump often asks his advisers why his administration can’t better influence the public narrative.
White House rejection
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reportedly rejected the notion that Trump was not fully briefed. “That is an absolutely false statement from someone who was not in the room,” Leavitt said, according to the news outlet. “Anyone who has been present for conversations with President Trump knows that he actively seeks and solicits the opinions of everyone in the room and expects full honesty from all of his top advisers.”
The Ministry of Defense praises the operation
Senior Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell also reportedly defended the administration’s approach to war. “Operation Epic Fury was a resounding success, our forces executed the mission with unmatched precision and achieved every objective set from the start,” Parnell said. “Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is in constant contact with President Trump regarding all aspects of Operation Epic Fury. We are proud of the exceptional performance of our warfighters and remain fully confident in the commander in chief’s decisions.”
