Trump calls New York Times 'seditious', CNN 'stupid' over Iran war coverage
He further alleged that coverage by the two outlets implied Iran was "winning the war".
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (1 May) sharply criticised The New York Times and CNN over their coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran, accusing the newspaper of "seditious" reporting and calling the broadcaster "stupid".
Speaking to reporters at an Oval Office event, where he signed an executive order aimed at expanding workers' access to retirement savings, Trump also defended his administration's handling of the conflict and dismissed criticism of US military performance, reports Anadolu Agency.
Trump claimed the United States had "militarily decapitated" Iran and rejected media reports suggesting otherwise.
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"And every day, I read about how well they're doing militarily," he said. "They've got nothing left, they're done. And yet I read in The New York Times, I see on stupid CNN – which I only watch because you have to watch a little bit of the enemy."
He further alleged that coverage by the two outlets implied Iran was "winning the war".
"If you read The New York Times – it's actually seditious, in my opinion," Trump said. "You read some of these columnists, but it all starts with the top. It's a terrible thing."
The president added that he did not "care" about such reporting, insisting, "everybody knows the facts. We are decimating the country."
The remarks come after the editorial board of The New York Times argued that the US military may be "losing its edge" in the Iran conflict, suggesting that tactical gains have not translated into a broader strategic advantage and could weaken Washington's position.
