On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump launched another attack on the media, accusing them of downplaying the effects of recent American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. He even went as far as questioning the assessments of his own intelligence agencies. His criticism was primarily aimed at The New York Times and CNN, labeling them as "enemies of the country" and "nasty, sick people" for publishing reports that, according to Trump, "attempt to discredit the achievements of our pilots and tarnish America's image."
The controversy began when both outlets reported that an initial evaluation from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) suggested the strikes had only set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months. This was at odds with Trump's claims that the facilities were "completely destroyed," equating the outcome to a "total obliteration."
"They should be celebrating the tremendous success we achieved instead of trying to make our country look bad," Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. He also called for CNN journalist Natasha Bertrand to be fired and "dragged out like a dog" for her coverage of the incident.
Nonetheless, both The New York Times and CNN stood by the accuracy of their reports. Charles Stadtlander, a spokesperson for the Times, pointed out that Trump's own national security team acknowledged the existence of the DIA report, which he argued undermines the president's attempts to label the information as "fake news."
"We will continue to rigorously report on the administration's decision-making, including the conflict between the president and his intelligence agency," stated Stadtlander. Meanwhile, CNN defended Bertrand and reiterated that their reporting was based on initial findings, which could be subject to change as new information becomes available.
"It's absurd to criticize journalists for accurately reporting assessments that are of public interest," the network stated in a release.
In an effort to bolster the president's narrative, the White House dismissed the leaked DIA report as an "inconclusive and low-confidence assessment" and accused the media of trying to undermine both the president and the pilots involved in the operation.
"Everyone knows what happens when fourteen 30,000-pound bombs hit their target perfectly: total obliteration," noted the official statement, echoing Trump's recent rhetoric.
Trump's ongoing battle with the media is not new; it is part of his usual strategy to discredit journalists and cast doubt on their reports, especially when the official narrative is shaky and open to scrutiny.
Even some of Trump's Republican allies, such as Senator Markwayne Mullins, backed this stance in an interview with CNN. "We should be celebrating this operation, not dividing the country," Mullins stated, to which journalist Kaitlan Collins replied that her responsibility is "to ask questions, not to celebrate."
The "war against the press" that President Trump has reignited since his return to power has exacerbated the journalism crisis in the country. The latest Digital News Report from Oxford University concluded that the "bleeding" of the sector has worsened since January.
Media Relations and Presidential Criticism
Why did President Trump criticize CNN and The New York Times?
President Trump criticized CNN and The New York Times for allegedly downplaying the impact of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and for publishing reports that contradicted his claims of a complete destruction of those sites.
How did CNN and The New York Times respond to Trump's accusations?
Both CNN and The New York Times defended the accuracy of their reports. CNN reaffirmed that their coverage was based on initial findings, while The New York Times highlighted that Trump's own national security team confirmed the existence of the DIA report.
What did the White House say about the leaked DIA report?
The White House described the leaked DIA report as an "inconclusive and low-confidence assessment" and accused the media of attempting to undermine the president and the operation's pilots.