President Donald Trump is threatening legal action against CNN and The New York Times over their reporting on recent U.S. military strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Trump has accused both outlets of spreading “false,” “defamatory,” and “unpatriotic” information that undermines American interests and misrepresents the effectiveness of the operation.
Trump’s sharp rebuke followed published reports suggesting the U.S. bombing campaign may not have significantly crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities. On his Truth Social platform, Trump demanded public apologies and the immediate dismissal of specific reporters, including CNN’s Natasha Bertrand. “FAKE NEWS REPORTERS FROM CNN & THE NEW YORK TIMES SHOULD BE FIRED, IMMEDIATELY!!! BAD PEOPLE WITH EVIL INTENTIONS!!!” Trump posted.
CNN and The New York Times have stood by their reporting.
CNN released a statement, saying: “We stand 100% behind Natasha Bertrand’s journalism and specifically her and her colleagues’ reporting of the early intelligence assessment of the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. CNN’s reporting made clear that this was an initial finding that could change with additional intelligence.
“We have extensively covered President Trump’s own deep skepticism about it. However, we do not believe it is reasonable to criticize CNN reporters for accurately reporting the existence of the assessment and accurately characterizing its findings, which are in the public interest.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth came to President Trump’s defense during a press briefing, accusing the media of distorting facts and undermining national security. Hegseth reiterated that the Pentagon employed bunker-buster bombs and submarine-launched cruise missiles in a highly successful campaign targeting Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. He described the mission as a “resounding success,” dismissing media skepticism as politically motivated.
The controversy centers on conflicting intelligence reports about the scope of destruction inflicted on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While some leaked assessments suggest the strikes may have delayed Iran’s nuclear program by only a few months, senior U.S. officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, maintain that critical facilities were obliterated and will take years to rebuild.
