Trump Threatens Lawsuits Against New York Times, CNN Over Iran Strike Reporting

President Donald Trump has threatened legal action against The New York Times and CNN over their reporting on a preliminary Pentagon intelligence assessment that contradicted his claims about the destruction of Iran's nuclear sites. His personal attorney, Alejandro Brito, demanded retractions and apologies, labeling the reports "false," "defamatory," and "unpatriotic." Both news organizations refused, with The Times' deputy general counsel David McCraw emphasizing that their reporting was accurate and based on the administration's own acknowledgment of the preliminary nature of the assessment. Trump has also publicly criticized and called for the firing of CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand, whose coverage he deems fake news, though CNN stands firmly behind her journalism. The dispute highlights tensions between the Trump administration and the press, with the president accusing the outlets of bad faith reporting while the media defend their role in providing the public with impartial intelligence analysis. Both The Times and CNN have stressed their commitment to truthful reporting despite the president's legal threats and personal attacks.