Trump seizes on rescue of downed airman to recast unpopular Iran war

Standing ‌before cameras on Monday, Trump recast the perilous operation as a providential military triumph

It was the second time in less than a week that the president had scheduled time to directly deliver ​his message on Iran to the public. Picture: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein.

President Donald Trump was on the verge of a crisis in the Iran war, faced with the rare instance of an American airman shot down and stranded ​deep inside enemy territory.

Then, the airman's daring Easter weekend rescue gave the US president the chance to quickly flip the script.