CNN Backtracks Iran Nuclear Strike Intelligence Amid Trump Dispute

CNN faced significant backlash after reporting, based on a leaked 'top secret' Pentagon intelligence assessment, that the recent U.S. air strike on Iranian nuclear sites only set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months. President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly contested these claims, presenting satellite imagery and asserting the destruction of Iran's centrifuges, which led CNN to backtrack and admit the assessment was inconclusive at the time of reporting. CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter defended the network's coverage as fair-minded scrutiny but was widely criticized for blurring lines between journalism and partisan activism, especially given CNN's history of anti-Trump bias. The controversy sparked discussions over media credibility and the role of anonymous intelligence leaks, with some accusing CNN and other legacy outlets of deliberately undermining the military mission and lying to discredit President Trump. The episode has further fueled skepticism about mainstream media's objectivity and led to calls for significant changes within CNN. Additionally, some media commentators mocked the network's attempts at damage control, emphasizing a perceived decline in journalistic standards.