U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump National Doral Miami in Miami, Florida, U.S., March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
On Monday night, March 30, U.S. President Donald Trump posted, on his Truth Social platform, a video of a bombing attack against an ammunition depot in Isfahan, Iran. The Wall Street Journal confirmed the video's authenticity.
Trump's aides, according to the Daily Beast's Will Neal, are supplying him with videos of destruction in order to "reassure him" that the war against Iran is going well.
"The Truth Social clip shows a large number of ,000-pound penetrating munitions being used against the site, setting off a dramatic chain of explosions that lit up the night," Neal explains. "It comes as Trump Administration officials claim the president's aides are feeding him mash-up clips of successful strikes against Iranian targets — mainly, 'stuff blowing up' — by way of keeping him abreast of his war on the Islamic regime, which he started on February 28."
Neal adds, "One official explained that the montages, each of which cover the previous 48 hours, are being used because 'we can't tell him every single thing that happens,' and that they are intended to supplement briefings from military and intelligence advisers. They added that the clips focus on U.S. gains in the war because these tend to get a better response from Trump's immediate team, and that the clips are therefore likely failing to capture the full scope of the situation on the ground."
But many of Trump's critics are arguing that the Iran war is not going well and that the U.S. president is in way over his head.
"Trump's Monday night post comes amid wider concern over his administration’s use of gamified compilations of strikes on Iran to bolster public perception of the conflict online," Neal notes.
The Iran conflict escalated rapidly following Trump's decision to launch military operations on February 28, 2026.
The administration has since conducted multiple strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including ammunition depots and weapons manufacturing facilities. U.S. military officials have characterized the campaign as degrading Iran's offensive capabilities, though independent assessments of the conflict's trajectory remain limited.
The Trump administration has implemented a novel briefing approach for the president, utilizing compiled footage of successful strikes to supplement traditional military and intelligence briefings. Officials have explained that these visual compilations help keep the president informed of operational developments while focusing on U.S. military gains.
International observers have raised questions about the sustainability and strategic objectives of the prolonged military engagement, with critics arguing the conflict may not be proceeding as favorably as administration statements suggest.
