Trump Attacks CNN over Iran War Coverage

The Trump administration and the Pentagon sharply criticized the news network CNN on Friday over its reporting on the war involving Iran.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used part of a press briefing on military operations against Iran to criticize media coverage, singling out CNN and arguing that American media should adopt what he described as a more patriotic approach to reporting.

Hegseth rejected a report suggesting Washington may have underestimated Iran’s ability to disrupt global oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

He also signaled support for a potential change in the network’s leadership, referring to media executive David Ellison.

Ellison leads Paramount Skydance, which is preparing a major acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, the current owner of CNN. The proposed deal reportedly surpassed a competing offer from Netflix.

Ellison previously stated that CNN’s editorial independence would be preserved if the acquisition is completed. The transaction is financially supported in part by his father, Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle Corporation and a long-time political ally of US President Donald Trump.

The White House also criticized the report concerning potential threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

CNN chief executive Mark Thompson defended the network’s reporting and emphasized that its journalism is intended to provide accurate information to audiences in the United States and globally.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the report as inaccurate and said US defense planners have long considered the possibility of Iran attempting to close the Strait of Hormuz. She added that contingency planning for such a scenario had already been incorporated into the administration’s strategy before the launch of the military campaign known as Operation Furious Anger.