In a fervent post on Truth Social on Sunday evening, Donald Trump issued a stern warning to journalists, suggesting they could face treason charges for disseminating inaccurate reports concerning the conflict in Iran. The former president’s message was extensive, stretching over 400 words, and expressed his frustration with what he described as deceptive media practices.
Trump accused Iran of being adept at manipulating media narratives, alleging that the nation has been supplying misleading information and AI-generated videos to the “very appreciative fake news media.” He raised concerns about the authenticity of videos circulating in the media, which purportedly show incidents such as buildings and ships engulfed in flames. Among these, he specifically mentioned a video depicting the USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier seemingly on fire.
“Not only was it not burning, it was not even shot at — Iran knows better than to do that!” Trump asserted, dismissing the credibility of the footage. He suggested that these media outlets, by propagating such stories, might be guilty of treason for spreading misinformation.
In a show of gratitude, Trump extended thanks to Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for his efforts in potentially revoking the broadcast licenses of what Trump termed as “Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations.” This gesture underscores Trump’s ongoing battle with media outlets he believes to be acting against American interests.
‘Not only was it not burning, it was not even shot at — Iran knows better than to do that!’ the president wrote.
‘The story was knowingly FAKE and, in a certain way, you can say that those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information!’ Trump continued.
Treason is one of the most serious crimes that can be committed against the US. According to federal law, treason is defined as a person who owes allegiance to the US levying war against the country or giving aid and comfort to its enemies.
A person convicted of treason is subject to a minimum of five years in prison and a minimum $10,000 fine, or even the death penalty.
Trump threatened to charge reporters with treason for spreading false information about the war in Iran. He is pictured while speaking to the media on Air Force One on Sunday
Trump said that videos of the USS Abraham Lincoln on fire were generated by AI. The deck of the aircraft carrier is pictured
The AFP fact-checked the video of the aircraft carrier on fire and determined it was generated by AI, but did not say that any outlets had published it. The USS Abraham Lincoln is pictured
The video of the USS Abraham Lincoln on fire that Trump was referencing was fact-checked by AFP, which indeed determined that it was generated by AI.
The fact-checking article noted that the video was disseminated on social media, but it did not say that any publications shared the footage.
In his Truth Social post, Trump specifically accused the Wall Street Journal of ‘false reporting’ for publishing a live blog update about five US refueling planes being damaged by an Iranian missile strike on a military base in Saudi Arabia.
The president said the outlet reported that the planes were ‘supposedly struck down and badly damaged’ but that in reality the tankers ‘are all in service, with the exception of one, which will soon be flying the skies.’
In the Wall Street Journal’s update, the outlet reported that five refueling planes were struck, citing ‘two US officials’ who were unnamed.
The newspaper wrote that ‘The tankers were damaged but not fully destroyed and are being repaired.’
The Wall Street Journal also paraphrased a previous Truth Social post from Trump and reported that he said, ‘four of the planes had “virtually no” damage and were back in service, while one had “slightly more damage.”‘
Trump specifically accused the Wall Street Journal of falsely reporting that five US refueling planes were ‘struck down and badly damaged.’ He is pictured speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday
Trump also praised the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Brendan Carr, for ‘looking at the licenses’ of networks that have not covered the Iran conflict in a way that suits ‘public interest’
Trump made this 401-word post on Truth Social calling out left-wing media for false reporting and threatening to charge reporters with treason
In his Sunday evening post, the president also wrote that ‘Iran is being decimated, and the only battles they “win” are those that they create through AI.’
He accused ‘the radical left wing media’ of being aware that the videos and stories were fake but publishing them anyway.
Towards the end of the 401-word post, Trump praised Carr, the FCC chairman, for ‘looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic “News” Organizations.’
Carr has previously threatened to revoke the broadcasting licenses of outlets that he feels do not cover the Iran conflict in a way that suits the ‘public interest.’
‘Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions – also known as the fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up,’ Carr said.
‘They get Billions of Dollars of FREE American Airwaves, and use it to perpetuate LIES, both in News and almost all of their Shows,’ the president wrote on Sunday.
He then went on to call out the ‘Late Night Morons, who get gigantic Salaries for horrible Rating, and never get, as I used to say in The Apprentice, “FIRED.”’
