Recommendations of the Editorial team
Donald Trump is upset About leaked Pentagon informationaccording to which the attacks on Iran were not as destructive last weekend as the President and his government claimed. On Tuesday, CNN and the New York Times reported on the initial assessments of the government to the effectiveness of the attacks, whereupon Trump has continuously rushed against the media for the past few days. And again and again emphasized that Iran’s nuclear skills had “wiped out”.
“The most complex and secret military operation in history”
The details of the intelligence report-according to which the goals were only partially damaged and Iran’s nuclear program was probably only thrown back by a few months-became public, while Trump took part in a NATO summit in the Netherlands. His statements in the meeting of the Allies mainly revolved around the attacks. And about how “disgusting” and “terrible” the media are. Because they reported on the government’s first findings. Meanwhile, Trump’s truth-social profile was swarming with outbursts of anger in capital letters against CNN and the “Times”. As well as demands, everyone involved should be fired. “Fake news reporter from CNN & the New York Times should be fired immediately !!! Bad people with bad intentions !!!”, he wrote this morning.
Trump also used Trump Social to announce an early morning press conference by Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, who today attacked the media together with chief of staff Dan Caine. “How many articles were written about how difficult it is to fly an aircraft for 36 hours?” Asked a visibly angry Hegseth the assembled press. In allusion to the mission to bomb the Iranian nuclear systems, which he described as “the most complex and secret military operation in history”.
“And how about if we celebrate it?” Hegseth continued in his outburst of anger about media reporting. “How about we talk about how successful America is? That only we have such skills? Unfortunately, I think that is too much about the fake news.”
Total attack on the media and informants
Hegseth even attacked one of his former colleagues – Jennifer Griffin from Fox News. Because this had asked how secure the government was that Iran did not shift uranium from the targets in advance. Which is likely according to the preliminary Pentagon report. “Jennifer, you were the worst. Those who are most common and deliberately presented what the President said,” he said.
The chaotic scene today in the Pentagon and on Trump’s truth social profile is part of a comprehensive attempt by the government to defend the attacks. To discredit the leaked secret service report. And to polish the president’s ego. While at the same time those are punished or threatened that do not represent the blows as historical success.
The president reacts particularly sensitively to the idea that the Iran has shifted uranium before the attacks. A person trusted with the matter told the Rolling Stone, Trump was particularly upset about reports that indicate that supplies were laid. Among other things, because Trump had warned the Iranians in advance with hints about possible measures. “It really makes him angry when people say that,” said the source. This would undermine Trump’s claim that the operation had been “perfect”.
Trump claimed to Truth on Truth today, while Hegseth insulted the media that “nothing had been removed from the facility”. And that the trucks visible on satellite images in front of the attacks were “that of concrete workers”.
Trump chases whistleblower – again
Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, press spokeswoman for the White House Karoline Leavitt and other high -ranking officials hurried to Trump according to the report. But Hegseth may be the spearhead of this defense campaign.
A Trump consultant said Rolling Stone that he had to laugh at the apparently prepared remark of the former Fox news presenter that Trump’s bombing was “the most complex and secret military operation at all”. Or as the source summarized: “even better than D-Day”.
Together with Hegseth Groteske, Trump spread exaggerations about the effectiveness of the attacks. Not surprisingly. Since the intelligence report did not underpin Trump’s secret service, the propaganda offensive was accompanied by a new search campaign against Leaks. As Rolling Stone first reported, the passing on of mockery to media such as CNN and “New York Times” quickly triggered a particularly aggressive examination. Trump and other leading government representatives were angry that something like this could happen.
The search for the leak ran in parallel to the Trump team’s wider approach to secret service and sensitive information. According to two sources, Pentagon employees and other government employees were personally warned by superiors that they would have to expect serious prison terms if they were involved in the transfer to the press.
Remain doubts – despite all the slogans
In addition, Trump’s confidants tried to further restrict the transfer of classified information to the congress. “We explain the war to the Leaks,” said a high official of the White House to Axios. Leavitt said on Wednesday that “the FBI was investigating who was the source of the leak. Because it was an illegal leak on CNN.”
It is still too early to finally assess the effectiveness of the operation. Caine was asked about this ambiguity at the press conference with Hegseth today. “General, on Sunday they said that it will take a while before you can rate the final damage. And it would be far too early to say what may still be there,” a reporter began. And then asked: “What has changed? Would you also use the term ‘wiped out’ too?”
Caine began to answer. But Hegseth intercepted him. He again attacked the “irresponsible” reporting of the media about the operation.