Trump is furious with the Leftist media outlet. They’ve once again treated him unfairly.
And CNN HQ was hit with an explosive attack by Donald Trump that they never saw coming.
President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign against major news outlets, zeroing in on CNN and The New York Times with a barrage of legal threats and sharp criticism. Yet, journalists at these organizations remain steadfast, insisting that the president’s actions will not deter them from their work.
Trump’s history of litigation stretches back decades, long before his political career began. In the past year alone, he has initiated lawsuits against CBS News, ABC News, The Des Moines Register, and the Pulitzer Prize board, while also hinting at legal action against other media entities.
His latest grievances center on CNN and The New York Times for their coverage of a U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, which Trump labeled “fake news.” Reports from both outlets suggested the strike failed to cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities, prompting a fierce response from the president. His personal attorney branded the Times’ reporting “false,” “defamatory,” and “unpatriotic,” threatening lawsuits against both organizations.
“These days, threats from the president have become business as usual for journalists. It won’t stop us from doing our jobs,” said Peter Baker, The New York Times’ White House correspondent, in an interview with Fox News Digital. Baker emphasized the importance of reporting on the Iran strike, stating, “It’s hard to think of anything more central to our journalistic mission than to report on the effects of a war involving a nuclear program.” He pointed to a letter from David McCraw, the Times’ senior vice president and lead newsroom attorney, as a clear statement of the paper’s position.
McCraw’s letter rejected any possibility of an apology or retraction, asserting that the public has a right to know whether the attack on Iran succeeded. “We rely on our intelligence services to provide the kind of impartial assessment that we all need in a democracy to judge our country’s foreign policy and the quality of our leaders’ decisions,” McCraw said. “We told the truth to the best of our ability. We will continue to do so.”
At CNN, a journalist dismissed the impact of Trump’s threats, telling Fox News Digital, “It’s not affecting my day at all.” The network has stood firm, with a spokesperson defending its reporting to Fox News Digital:
“CNN stands by our thorough reporting on an early intelligence assessment of the recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which has since been confirmed by other news organizations. The White House has acknowledged the existence of the assessment, and their statement is included in our story.”
Trump’s legal battles have already yielded results. On Tuesday night, Paramount Global settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million, covering legal fees, case costs, and contributions to Trump’s library or various charitable causes.
An additional mid-eight-figure sum is expected to fund advertisements or public service announcements supporting conservative causes, according to Fox News Digital. The settlement came despite resistance from CBS journalists, including “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley, who warned that it would be “very damaging to CBS, to Paramount, to the reputation of those companies.”
When speaking with Fox News Digital, a veteran “60 Minutes” producer called the lawsuit “complete bulls—,” reflecting the newsroom’s opposition. However, Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, pushed for the settlement to smooth the path for a planned merger with Skydance Media, which requires approval from Trump’s FCC.
Trump also secured a $15 million settlement from ABC last year after anchor George Stephanopoulos falsely claimed during an interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., that Trump was found “liable for r*pe” in a civil case. The victory points to Trump’s willingness to follow through on his threats, a pattern noted by industry observers.
A seasoned media executive told Fox News Digital, “Trump has shown that there’s actually bark to his bite.” They cautioned that news organizations should strive for fairness, noting that Trump often files lawsuits in southern jurisdictions where media companies may face less sympathetic judges and juries.
In 2018, USA Today’s Nick Penzenstadler explored Trump’s “I’ll sue you” effect, writing, “The threats can be effective. Even the possibility of a lawsuit by a rich, powerful opponent raises the specter of years of expensive and time-consuming litigation.”
The media executive echoed this sentiment, warning that CNN and The New York Times, especially as standalone entities, may face “a drawn-out, ugly battle in a southern courtroom with embarrassing discovery processes and unsympathetic judges and juries.”
Trump’s rhetoric escalated on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo, where he expressed a desire to see prosecutions over leaks related to the Iran strike intelligence.
He also nodded in agreement as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem discussed potential Justice Department action against CNN for a segment about an app tracking ICE agents’ locations. CNN defended its reporting, stating there is “nothing illegal” about covering the app’s existence.
As Trump’s legal battles with the press intensify, the media landscape braces for a contentious fight. While newsrooms stand their ground, the president’s track record suggests he is prepared to push forward.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
