WASHINGTON - A US official has described President Donald Trump as the most aggressive voice in his own administration regarding Iran, telling Axios the president is "the most bloodthirsty, like a mad dog."
The anonymous official rejected claims that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or Secretary of State Marco Rubio are pushing for a harder line. "Those guys sound like the doves compared to the president," the official told Axios, according to multiple media reports published Tuesday.
The comments come as Trump set an 8 p.m. ET Tuesday deadline for Iran to reach a deal, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz shipping route. Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if no agreement is reached.
A second US source who has spoken with Trump in recent days described him as one of the most hawkish figures within his administration, according to the Axios report cited by News18. The reporting was based on interviews with six officials and sources with direct knowledge of the diplomacy or Trump's thinking.
Trump has repeatedly shifted deadlines in recent weeks, pushing the latest cutoff from Monday to Tuesday, according to the Mirror. In a Truth Social post Tuesday morning, Trump wrote: "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again".
The White House responded to questions about the administration's internal dynamics. "Only President Trump and US negotiators have visibility on these sensitive diplomatic conversations – anonymous sources do not," a White House deputy press secretary told the Daily Beast.
A senior administration official told Axios they believe Trump would postpone attacks if he "sees a deal is coming together". However, a defense official said they were "skeptical" about any further extension for Iran.
Trump has reportedly begun testing reactions among advisers by referring to potential strikes as "Infrastructure Day". His negotiating team, including Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, believes a deal should be pursued if possible, according to the Axios report.
Regional allies including Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have urged the US not to accept a ceasefire unless Iran makes major concessions, such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz or giving up highly enriched uranium — steps that appear unlikely, according to the report.
The Iranian state-run IRNA news agency reported Monday that the country rejected the latest ceasefire proposal, adding that Trump's 8 p.m. deadline is final.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned the US that attacks on civilian infrastructure are banned under international law, per a spokesperson. Trump told reporters he is "not at all" concerned about fears that US attacks could be seen as war crimes.
Trump has been criticized for dragging the US into a Middle East conflict without a clear exit plan, according to the Daily Beast. Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump insisted his threat to ramp up attacks amounts to a plan to end the war.
Whether Trump will follow through on his threats or set a new deadline is not clear even to those inside the White House, the Daily Beast reported.
The Axios report did not identify the official who made the "bloodthirsty" remark. The news outlet is known for having close access to the White House.