The President of the United States, Donald Trump, attacked the media again this Thursday, accusing them of downplaying the impact of recent U.S. bombings on nuclear facilities in Iran and even questioning the assessments of his own intelligence services.
Trump directed his criticisms mainly at The New York Times and the network CNN, which he labeled as “enemies of the country” and as “evil and sick people” for publishing reports that, according to the leader, “attempt to discredit the success of our pilots and make the United States look bad.”
The controversy erupted after both outlets revealed that, according to a preliminary assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the attacks from last Saturday would have only delayed the Iranian nuclear program by a few months, in contrast to Trump's statements, who claimed that the facilities were “completely destroyed” and that the results amounted to a “total obliteration.”
“ They should be proud of the great success we achieved, instead of trying to make our country look bad,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, where he also called for CNN journalist Natasha Bertrand to be fired and “thrown out like a dog” for her coverage of the issue.
However, both The New York Times and CNN defended the veracity of their reports.
The spokesperson for Times, Charles Stadtlander, recalled that Trump's own national security team confirmed the existence of the DIA report, which, according to him, undermines the president's attempts to label the information as “fake news.”
"We will continue to inform rigorously about the decision-making of the administration, including the conflict between the president and his own intelligence agency," Stadtlander stated.
For its part, CNN expressed its support for Bertrand and reiterated that its coverage was based on initial findings that could change with the inclusion of new information.
"It's absurd to criticize journalists for accurately reporting on evaluations that are of public interest," the network stated in a press release.
In an effort to strengthen the presidential narrative, the White House described the leaked DIA report as an "inconclusive and low-confidence assessment" and accused the media of attempting to undermine both the president and the pilots who carried out the operation.
“Everyone knows what happens when fourteen 30,000-pound bombs are dropped and all hit their target perfectly: total obliteration,” emphasized the official statement, reiterating the language used by Trump in recent hours.
The president's confrontation with the media is not new and fits within his usual strategy of discrediting journalists and sowing doubts about their reports, especially when the official narrative is hardly credible and comes under scrutiny.
Even some of Trump's Republican allies, such as Senator Markwayne Mullins, aligned with that stance during an interview with CNN.
"We should celebrate this operation, not seek to divide the country," said Mullins, to which journalist Kaitlan Collins responded that her duty is "to ask questions, not to celebrate."
The "war against the press" that President Trump has initiated since his return to power has exacerbated the crisis in the journalism sector in the country.
The latest report from Digital News Report, from the University of Oxford, concluded that "the hemorrhage" in the sector has worsened since January.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tensions between the United States and Iran and Their Relationship with the Media
Why does Donald Trump criticize CNN and The New York Times?
Donald Trump has criticized CNN and The New York Times because, in his view, these outlets downplayed the impact of the U.S. bombings on nuclear facilities in Iran. Trump believes that these reports undermine the success of the military operation and reflect poorly on the United States. The media defended their coverage, stating that they relied on preliminary assessments from the Defense Intelligence Agency that could change with new information.
What results did Trump report regarding the bombings in Iran?
Trump stated that the bombings in Iran resulted in a "total obliteration" of the nuclear facilities. According to him, the facilities were completely destroyed, which contrasts with media reports suggesting that Iran's nuclear program was only delayed by a few months. The White House backed Trump's version, deeming the report from the Defense Intelligence Agency inconclusive.
What is the White House's stance on intelligence reports regarding Iran?
The White House supported Trump's position and described the assessments of the Defense Intelligence Agency as "inconclusive and low-confidence assessments". It accused the media of attempting to undermine both the president and the pilots who carried out the military operation in Iran.
What has been Iran's response to the American attacks?
In response to the bombings, Iran attacked the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar, although no American casualties were reported. Iran vowed retaliation, stating that every American citizen in the region is now a legitimate target. Tensions in the region remain high, with threats of further reprisals from Iran and its allies.
How has the international community reacted to the conflict between the U.S. and Iran?
Russia condemned the United States' attacks on Iran, accusing Trump of ignoring a mediation offer and describing the offensive as an escalation that worsens instability in the Middle East. The Kremlin warned that the Middle East is "on the brink of the abyss" and expressed concern over the possibility that the United States might consider the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
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