What did the De Lome Letter portray about President McKinley?

The De Lome Letter, written by Spanish Minister to the United States Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, critiqued President McKinley in a manner that conveyed a perception of him as weak and indecisive. In the letter, de Lôme described McKinley as lacking the resolve to act decisively, particularly concerning the growing tensions between the United States and Spain over Cuba. This portrayal suggested that McKinley was more concerned with pleasing the public than taking bold actions, which fueled public outrage and contributed to the pro-war sentiment in the U.S. at the time. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of the President in the eyes of not only the American public but also foreign diplomats, framing him as an ineffective leader in a crucial moment in history.