President Donald Trump had little to say as he returned to the White House on Sunday, one day after announcing the start of a military assault on Iran . One reporter asked about the operation’s objectives. Another asked who Trump wanted to lead Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack. Instead of answering, Trump stopped to admire new statues of Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin in the Rose Garden. “Unbelievable statues,” he said as reporters shouted their questions. “You’ll see. Come and look at them.” Another journalist asked if he had a message to the families of the three US service members already killed in the conflict. Trump just walked away. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reported that Trump also did not speak to reporters on Air Force One during the flight back to Washington from Mar-a-Lago, as he typically does. He did, however, speak to some reporters by phone over the weekend as the operation unfolded. Trump’s refusal to address the assembled media after igniting a major conflict overseas, but instead praising his new statues, led to harsh criticism on X: Insane thing to say while we are in the middle of a war you just started yesterday. https://t.co/n6tsxAYmXH — Micah (@micah_erfan) March 2, 2026 We are under attack. Americans are dead. BUT HOW NICE ARE THESE STATUES?!? https://t.co/JLvYrDTyim — Maine (@TheMaineWonk) March 2, 2026 Americans deserve better. https://t.co/Lf5pjRmNd3 — Seth Magaziner (@SethMagaziner) March 2, 2026 Bombing Iran and “unbelievable statues.” The Affordability Tour won’t stop can’t stop. https://t.co/NhNSxzL67p — Jesse Lee (@JesseCharlesLee) March 2, 2026 We lost American troops today. That should be the sole focus. https://t.co/h6jKlNVap2 — Brett Bruen (@BrettBruen) March 2, 2026 JFC. ?♀️ Americans are dead but, “did you see the statutes in the Rose Garden?” My god this man is the most callous and cold hearted POS. https://t.co/V5KoVtcdTx — Camille MacKenzie (@CamRMacKenzie) March 2, 2026 Dead soldiers? Who cares, he has a statue! https://t.co/ahxJQpTpkG — Conservative (@Conservative1AZ) March 2, 2026 Remember, American soldiers died today. Statues were on his mind. https://t.co/ai9wq3iJiU — P a u l ◉ (@SkylineReport) March 2, 2026 Vanity and a narcissist https://t.co/0kqdOvtojE — Sterling Holmes (@SterlingPHolmes) March 2, 2026 As families receive the news of their fallen soldiers, as the country hears of the first realities of this conflict, President Donald J Trump arrives home in his baseball cap, from his country club vacation, & speaks only of his statues. Failed leadership. https://t.co/ds5YjVENjs — sunnyskiesahead (@sandsun4me) March 2, 2026 Unbelievable Statues! Truly pic.twitter.com/TrEDef0wya — NobodyNoOne (@BraveNewEarth) March 2, 2026