WASHINGTON — While publicly hinting he’d wait two weeks to decide on bombing Iran, Donald Trump had already made up his mind. Behind the scenes, stealth bombers were airborne as he attended a fundraiser at his New Jersey golf club.

By Saturday, Trump gave the final order to strike three Iranian nuclear sites — marking the first direct US attack on Iran since 1979. His public delay was part of a deliberate “misdirection” tactic, with decoy flights and diplomatic backchannels at play.

Trump coordinated closely with Israel after its airstrikes on Iran and was briefed daily. He also consulted allies and former aides to avoid backlash over another Middle East war.

The operation, kept highly classified, was executed with precise timing — just 40 minutes after Trump’s return to the White House. He confirmed the “very successful” strike via Truth Social that evening.

Now, with Iran retaliating, Trump faces new decisions: escalate further or shift to diplomacy.