Trump posts AI image of bombing despite halt in airstrikes; 75% of Americans react coldly

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, posted an AI-generated image on his social media account showing attacks on Kharg Island, Iran’s oil export hub, and an Iranian tanker. As the war with Iran drags on, concerns are growing in the United States about the Trump administration’s ability to manage the conflict, making the move appear indifferent to that criticism.
On the 26th local time, President Trump posted an image on Truth Social with the phrase "Kharg airstrike." The picture showed several fighter jets attacking what appeared to be an oil export terminal on Kharg Island.
He then posted three more images with the phrase "Now it’s our tanker!" All three showed Trump aboard a ship flying the U.S. flag. One image showed two men wearing turbans and head coverings jumping off the vessel, while another showed U.S. soldiers standing behind Trump.
However, a poll conducted by CBS and YouGov on the same day found that more than three-quarters of 2,193 American respondents said the Trump administration is having major difficulty handling the war. About 20% said the administration is managing the conflict smoothly as expected, while only about 2% said it is going more easily than expected.
With no clear end to the war in sight, most respondents were also pessimistic about its future. Thirty-seven percent said the war would continue for months, and more than 20% said it would last for years. Only 9% said it would end within days.
In addition, about two-thirds of respondents said President Trump should end the war now, while one-third said it should continue until the Iranian regime makes further concessions.
The U.S. military carried out night airstrikes on Iran for 13 consecutive days through the 23rd. However, U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, has not announced any airstrikes on Iran for three straight days from the 24th through today.
U.S. media outlets have reported that President Trump received a briefing on the strike plans on the 24th but did not approve them. They also said reports that air defenses at U.S. bases in Gulf countries, which could be targeted by Iranian retaliation, are vulnerable because of a shortage of interceptor missiles appear to have influenced the decision.
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