“At his resort in Florida, the president was told that Soleimani was going to be coming to Baghdad; senior officials felt he was taunting the United States by showing up in the Iraqi capital, implying that he could move around with impunity.”

“Officials reminded Trump that after the Iranians mined ships, downed the U.S. drone...he hadn’t responded. Acting now, they said, would send a message: “The argument is, if you don’t ever respond to them, they think they can get by with anything,” one White House official said.”

“Trump was also motivated to act by what he felt was negative coverage after his decision to call off the airstrike after Iran downed the surveillance drone...Trump was also frustrated that the details of his internal deliberations had leaked out and felt he looked weak...”