Fact Check: Trump Threatens to Sue Media for Not Revealing Sources on Iran Intel
What We Know
On June 26, 2025, President Trump threatened to sue both The New York Times and CNN over their reporting on a preliminary intelligence assessment regarding U.S. airstrikes in Iran. This assessment indicated that the strikes had only temporarily delayed Iran's nuclear program by a few months, contradicting Trump's claims that the attacks had "obliterated" Iran's nuclear capabilities (source-1). In a letter sent to The Times, Trump's lawyer, Alejandro Brito, demanded a retraction and an apology, labeling the article as "false," "defamatory," and "unpatriotic" (source-6). Both news organizations stood by their reporting, with The Times asserting that their article accurately reflected the preliminary intelligence report confirmed by Trump administration officials (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that Trump threatened to sue the media for not revealing sources on Iran intel is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The New York Times and CNN both reported on the legal threats made by Trump's lawyer, highlighting the context of the threats as part of a broader effort by Trump to challenge media narratives that contradict his statements (source-1, source-6).
The reliability of these sources is high, as both The New York Times and CNN are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards. The New York Times specifically noted that the intelligence report was preliminary and that further assessments could follow, which adds a layer of credibility to their reporting (source-1).
Moreover, Trump's history of legal actions against media outlets, including previous lawsuits filed by Brito, suggests a pattern of behavior aimed at discrediting unfavorable media coverage (source-1). This context reinforces the understanding that the threats are part of a larger strategy to undermine media credibility.
Conclusion
The claim that Trump threatened to sue the media for not revealing sources on Iran intel is True. The evidence from multiple reputable news sources confirms that Trump's legal team issued threats against The New York Times and CNN in response to their reporting on the intelligence assessment regarding Iran's nuclear program. The threats were characterized as part of Trump's ongoing effort to challenge and delegitimize media narratives that contradict his administration's claims.
