Fact Check: Trump Threatens Legal Action Against CNN and The New York Times Over Sources
What We Know
On June 26, 2025, former President Donald Trump threatened to sue both CNN and The New York Times over their reporting on a preliminary intelligence assessment regarding U.S. military strikes in Iran. The reports suggested that these strikes had only temporarily delayed Iran's nuclear program, contradicting Trump's claims that the attacks had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities (source-1, source-4). Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, characterized the articles as "false," "defamatory," and "unpatriotic," demanding retractions and apologies from both news organizations (source-1, source-6).
In response, both CNN and The New York Times stood by their reporting. The Times' legal counsel, David McCraw, stated that the article was accurate and reflected the preliminary nature of the intelligence assessments, which had been confirmed by Trump administration officials (source-1, source-4). CNN also confirmed that they received a similar legal threat and rejected the claims made by Trump’s team (source-6).
Analysis
The claim that Trump threatened legal action against CNN and The New York Times is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Both outlets reported on the legal threats and provided detailed accounts of the exchanges between Trump's legal team and their respective legal counsels. The New York Times emphasized that their reporting was based on verified intelligence assessments, which were acknowledged by officials within the Trump administration (source-1, source-4).
The reliability of these sources is high, as both CNN and The New York Times are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. They have a history of fact-checking and providing context in their reporting. The statements made by Trump's attorney, while reflecting his client's perspective, are also consistent with Trump's previous patterns of legal threats against media outlets that report unfavorably about him (source-6).
However, it is important to note that Trump's threats are part of a broader strategy to challenge and delegitimize media narratives that contradict his claims. This tactic has been observed throughout his political career and raises questions about press freedom and the implications of legal threats on journalistic integrity (source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that Trump threatened legal action against CNN and The New York Times over their reporting is True. The evidence from multiple reputable sources confirms that Trump, through his attorney, demanded retractions and accused both outlets of publishing false and defamatory information. Both news organizations have firmly rejected these demands, standing by their reporting as accurate and necessary for public knowledge.
Sources
- Trump Threatens to Sue The Times and CNN Over Iran ... (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/business/media/trump-iran-new-york-times-cnn.html)
- Qui est Massad Boulos, ce libanais conseiller de TRUMP (https://www.jforum.fr/qui-est-massad-boulos-ce-libanais-conseiller-de-trump.html)
- Pourquoi la fureur de Trump et Vance contre Zelensky (https://www.jforum.fr/pourquoi-la-fureur-de-trump-et-vance-contre-zelensky.html)
- Trump Makes Legal Threat To CNN And The New York ... (https://deadline.com/2025/06/trump-cnn-new-york-times-legal-threat-1236444102/)
- Pourquoi ce chapeau de Melania Trump - JForum (https://www.jforum.fr/pourquoi-ce-chapeau-de-melania-trump.html)
- Trump threatens CNN and New York Times with lawsuits ... (https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/26/media/trump-threatens-cnn-new-york-times-lawsuits-iran-intel-assessment)
- Faut-il acheter le smartphone de Donald Trump ? On fait le point … (https://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2005970/faut-il-acheter-le-smartphone-de-donald-trump-on-fait-le-point-sur-ce-que-propose-ce-modele-android.htm)
- Trump considers forcing journalists to reveal sources who ... (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/trump-iran-military-strike-report)
