What did Donald Trump do today?

He got called out on a lie about Iran by both Israel and his own administration.

Yesterday, Israel launched an attack on the infrastructure of a major Iranian gas field. Almost immediately, Iran retaliated with attacks that severely damaged a Qatari gas plant as well as other energy infrastructure targets in the Gulf region. Energy prices in the region rose again as a result, not just because the largest natural gas field in the world is now offline, but out of increasing fear that Trump is no longer in control of the war. 

In an emotional social media post last night, Trump complained that Israel had blindsided him, and basically condoned Iran's retaliation—the nation he is currently waging war against—saying it had only happened because Iran "didn't know" the United States hadn't supported the Israeli attack. He fumed that Israel had "violently lashed out" and demanded that "NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL" on Iran's "extremely important and valuable" gas fields unless Iran launched further attacks on the "very innocent" nation of Qatar.

There's a reason Trump was so overwrought in his defense of Qatar: they've paid handsomely for the privilege. Trump was delighted when Qatar promised to give him—personally, through the presidential library he controls—a new $400 million ultra-luxury jet to use as Air Force One. (It will still cost taxpayers up to a billion dollars to outfit with the security a president's jet needs.) He's also entered into sweetheart real estate and development deals with the tiny Gulf petrostate.  

That sensitivity to Qatari interests explains Trump's agitated post. It also explains why Iran targeted the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas plant in the first place. Qatar was an obvious choice for retaliation against Trump precisely because it is so closely aligned with his personal interests. 

The problem with Trump's story, as both Israeli and U.S. officials confirmed today, is that his story about Israel going rogue is a lie. Trump was briefed on and approved Israel's attack. 

It's not clear why Trump thinks Iran will limit its targets to what Trump deems acceptable, or for that matter why he thinks Iran's government would care if he hadn't personally signed off on an Israeli attack. That is, to put it mildly, not how wars work. 

Why does this matter?

• A president who doesn't understand that the enemy will fight back in war is a danger to the United States. 

• The President of the United States owes his allegiance to the people of the United States, not foreigners willing to pay for it.