Category: Attack the Press

Ellison Hosts Trump Dinner as Paramount Seeks Merger Approval

David Ellison, billionaire head of Paramount, hosted a private dinner at the U.S. Institute of Peace on Thursday to honor President Trump and senior administration officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who oversees the Justice Department’s antitrust review of Paramount’s pending $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The event featured CBS News executives and journalists, including Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who sat at Trump’s table alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Stephen Miller, and the First Lady.

The dinner created immediate conflict within CBS’s newsroom. Multiple journalists expressed concern that Paramount was hosting an event designed to honor politicians whom CBS News is tasked with covering objectively, particularly while the company awaits federal regulatory approval for its massive media merger. CBS staff said the event risked creating a perception of inappropriate closeness between the news division and the Trump administration at a critical moment for the deal’s fate.

Bari Weiss, the network’s editor-in-chief, has drawn criticism for potentially shifting CBS News coverage toward Trump-friendly editorial directions. Trump has given mixed reviews of CBS under Ellison’s ownership, praising some moves while harshly attacking “60 Minutes” reports he deemed unfair. Meanwhile, Trump has publicly demanded CNN be sold as part of discussions about the Warner Bros. merger, effectively endorsing Ellison’s acquisition strategy.

Paramount’s chief legal officer, Makan Delrahim, also attended and sat with Trump, positioning the company’s leadership directly before the president who benefits from regulatory approval. Paramount beat Netflix in February to secure the Warner Bros. deal, which would place CNN and HBO under Ellison’s control, fundamentally reshaping the American media landscape. Shareholders approved the sale this week, but the Justice Department must still authorize the transaction.

Several dozen protesters gathered outside the Institute of Peace on Thursday opposing the merger. CBS News declined to comment on the event, the White House did not respond to requests for comment, and Paramount also refused to address the controversy. Trump is scheduled to speak at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday, where CBS News will host administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/business/media/david-ellison-trump-cbs-news.html)

Pentagon Fires Stars and Stripes Ombudsman Over Editorial Independence

The Pentagon terminated Jacqueline Smith, the ombudsman for Stars and Stripes, the military’s independent newspaper, after she repeatedly flagged efforts to control the publication’s editorial independence. Smith had served in the role since December 2023 and was explicitly tasked by Congress with protecting the paper’s autonomy from Pentagon interference. Her firing, effective April 28, came without explanation and was declared non-grievable.

Smith detailed the abuse of power in an op-ed, stating she had warned the House and Senate Armed Services committees about “attempted control of the newspaper by the Pentagon” in recent months. She characterized her dismissal as occurring “in the coldest way possible,” suggesting deliberate suppression of her oversight role. On the same day as her termination announcement, the Pentagon rescinded the regulatory process that would have provided Stars and Stripes legal protection from interference, according to Smith’s account.

The firing aligns with broader institutional changes at the publication. In January, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced plans to overhaul Stars and Stripes, stating the paper would shift away from “woke distractions that syphon morale” and focus on a “new generation of service members.” Smith noted that Parnell’s social media post signaled serious intent, as the administration routinely reveals policy through such channels.

Stars and Stripes receives partial Defense Department funding but operates as an independent outlet with its own editorial authority. Smith’s removal eliminates the primary institutional check on Pentagon influence over the publication’s newsroom. She urged readers and officials to protect the newspaper from what she characterized as control by “Pentagon brass,” emphasizing the publication’s historical commitment to both military audiences and journalistic standards.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/pentagon-fires-stars-and-stripes-ombudsman-who-warned-of-attempted-control-over-military-paper/)

Hegseth says Iran war is Trump’s ‘gift to the world’ as he berates Europe and Asia for ‘freeriding’ | The Independent

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran as a “gift to the world” during a Pentagon press conference on Friday, while attacking European and Asian allies for declining to participate in the offensive military operations. Hegseth claimed the United States maintains an “ironclad blockade” on Iranian ports and accused Iran of acting as “pirates” and “terrorists” by enforcing its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the bombing campaign that began February 28.

Hegseth mocked longtime U.S. allies for what he termed “free riding,” stating that Europe and Asia have benefited from American military protection for decades while avoiding direct involvement in the current conflict. He derided recent diplomatic efforts by the United Kingdom and France, which had convened a 51-country summit announcing plans for a multinational “defensive mission” to protect merchant vessels and clear mines, calling these initiatives “a silly conference” and “not serious efforts” because they excluded offensive operations against Iranian forces.

Hegseth’s disparagement of U.S. allies aligns with President Trump’s repeated attacks on NATO as a “paper tiger” and his claims that member nations “weren’t there for us,” despite NATO’s mutual defense provision having been invoked only to defend the United States following the September 11, 2001 attacks. As Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s infrastructure, the administration has begun considering punitive measures against allied nations that refuse to join the war effort.

Trump has publicly considered withdrawing the United States from NATO, though a 2021 law authored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio would prohibit such action. A leaked Pentagon memorandum reported by Reuters indicates the administration is exploring retaliation against Britain by “reviewing” British claims to the Falkland Islands, which Argentina also claims and whose libertarian president, Javier Milei, is a Trump ally. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded by affirming that Falklanders have “overwhelmingly voted in favor of remaining a UK overseas territory” and reaffirmed Britain’s sovereignty position.

Hegseth’s remarks follow a prior Pentagon briefing in which he attacked journalists as possessing “hardened hearts,” claiming the press exhibits “relentlessly negative coverage” and “unpatriotic bias” while refusing to acknowledge what he described as the “historic and important success” of U.S. military operations in Iran.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-trump-iran-war-briefing-b2964346.html)

Trump Attacks Supreme Court Wall Street Journal Iran

President Donald Trump launched a series of Truth Social posts on Tuesday evening attacking the Supreme Court, The Wall Street Journal, wind energy, and Iran within 90 minutes. Trump announced Pennsylvania coal plants would remain open instead of being replaced by wind farms, which he called “costly and ineffective” and blamed for harming birds, repeating claims that scientists have disputed.

Trump assailed The Wall Street Journal as having “LOST ITS WAY,” targeting editorial board member Elliot Kaufman for an opinion piece criticizing Trump’s Iran negotiations. Trump accused billionaire owner Rupert Murdoch of directing the negative coverage and called the outlet a “failing political RAG.” This attack followed a federal judge’s dismissal of Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the newspaper and journalists who reported on an alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump posted a 340-word assault on the Supreme Court, claiming the justices he appointed have become “politically correct” and disloyal while Democratic appointees show unwavering loyalty. He criticized the Republican-appointed justices for lacking loyalty to him personally and allowing Democrats to “push them around,” referencing the court’s February decision striking down his tariff regime as unconstitutional and its pending ruling on birthright citizenship.

On Iran policy, Trump claimed Iran wants to open the Strait of Hormuz to earn $500 million daily and is only saying otherwise to “save face.” He stated that any deal with Iran would require the U.S. to “blow up the rest of their Country, their leaders included.” Trump’s comments followed his announcement that the U.S. would extend its ceasefire with Iran indefinitely at Pakistan’s request, leaving no timeline for resolving the conflict that began in late February and has caused thousands of deaths and a surge in gas prices.

Senator Elizabeth Warren responded to the ceasefire extension, telling CNN that Trump “has painted himself into a corner and he can’t find an exit,” noting the absence of any timeline on the blockade or war. Multiple recent polls show a majority of Americans oppose the Iran war.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-truth-social-supreme-court-wind-farms-b2962313.html)

Kash Patel Says He’s Suing Over Report Claiming He’s Repeatedly Been Intoxicated in Public While FBI Director – Yahoo News UK

FBI Director Kash Patel announced plans to sue The Atlantic after the publication reported that he had struggled to log into a computer system on April 10, initially believing he had been fired by President Trump. According to the article by Sarah Fitzpatrick, Patel panicked and frantically contacted aides and allies about his supposed termination, with nine sources describing his behavior and two characterizing it as a “freak-out,” though the lockout was later determined to be a technical issue unrelated to any personnel action.

The Atlantic’s report also detailed allegations that Patel had been intoxicated in public at restaurants in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas. The publication claimed that members of his security detail had experienced difficulty waking Patel on multiple occasions due to excessive alcohol consumption, and that a request for breaching equipment typically used by SWAT teams was made after Patel became unreachable behind locked doors.

Patel’s response came through FBI spokesperson Erica Knight, who dismissed the reporting as “fabricated” and announced a lawsuit would be filed. Patel himself posted on X stating he would meet the outlet “in court” and accused it of producing “fake news,” suggesting the actual malice standard required in defamation cases would favor his legal position.

FBI Assistant Director Benjamin Williamson released a statement calling the article “one of the most absurd things” he had read, characterizing it as “completely false reporting at a nearly 100% clip” despite a tight two-hour deadline provided to the publication for response. The statement was included in Patel’s social media post as supporting documentation for his claims of inaccurate reporting.

(Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kash-patel-says-suing-over-031725423.html)

Hegseth scolds reporters as ‘Pharisees’ in fire-and-brimstone Iran war briefing after Trump-as-Jesus furor | The Independent

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a Pentagon briefing on Iran operations on Thursday to attack journalists, comparing them to biblical Pharisees with “hardened hearts” who reject truth. Hegseth claimed the press exhibits “relentlessly negative coverage” and “unpatriotic” bias while refusing to acknowledge what he described as the “historic and important success” of U.S. military efforts and an emerging deal to address Iran’s nuclear program.

Hegseth’s attack centered on a Sunday church sermon about Pharisees witnessing Jesus heal a man, which he said paralleled journalists documenting military operations without recognizing their significance. He accused reporters of being “politically motivated” and “Trump hating,” stating their focus on negative coverage rather than military achievements proves they function as adversaries rather than observers of fact. Hegseth also attacked what he called “fake news” for failing to cover recruitment surges and national morale he attributed to Trump administration policies.

The defense secretary’s press conference assault on journalists reflects his ongoing hostility toward media access at the Pentagon, including attempts to restrict reporters from workspace designated for their use for decades. His tenure has been marked by repeated diatribes against the press during briefings conducted with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Dan Caine, establishing a pattern of blaming journalists for insufficient support of administration military operations.

Hegseth’s invocation of religious imagery to attack the press mirrors Trump’s recent posting of AI-generated images depicting himself as Jesus, which drew backlash even from conservative allies before Trump deleted and later reposted similar content. Pope Leo XIV responded with a statement condemning those who “manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain,” appearing to directly reference the administration’s use of religious rhetoric to justify military action.

The briefing underscores the Trump administration’s systematic attack on press freedom amid broader military escalation against Iran, with officials employing religious language and accusations of disloyalty to delegitimize journalistic scrutiny of war policy. Hegseth’s comparison of reporters to biblical antagonists represents an escalation in the administration’s framing of independent journalism as an obstacle to military objectives rather than a constitutional safeguard.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-iran-war-briefing-press-ai-photos-b2959018.html)

Trump Attacks Fox News Over Steyer Coverage

President Donald Trump attacked Fox News on Wednesday for covering Democratic California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer, whom Trump called a “SLEAZEBAG” and “LOSER.” Trump posted on Truth Social that the network was “promoting” Steyer instead of focusing on Republican candidate Steve Hilton, whom Trump has endorsed to succeed Governor Gavin Newsom.

Trump’s complaint about Fox News coverage lacked factual grounding. His post came approximately 40 minutes after Fox News had already featured Hilton on air discussing his campaign with host Harris Faulkner. Fox News had not run a substantial segment on Steyer on Wednesday but instead mentioned him briefly in relation to his fundraising totals, policy positions, and polling performance against other candidates.

The president appeared to reference a graphic displayed during Hilton’s interview that showed Steyer’s five-point immigration plan while Faulkner discussed his anti-ICE agenda and $120 million spending on the race. Hilton used the airtime to criticize Steyer’s immigration positions as “far-left extremism” and an extension of what he characterized as Biden-era open borders policies.

Trump’s attack on Fox News reflects a pattern of hostility toward the network when coverage does not align precisely with his preferred narrative. Trump has previously attacked both Fox News and Steyer simultaneously, demonstrating a longstanding grievance with both the billionaire Democratic donor and the Republican-aligned outlet that regularly gives Trump platform access.

Trump’s criticism of Fox News contradicts his repeated beneficiary status from the network’s coverage. Despite claiming the channel promotes Democrats, Trump continues to receive favorable treatment and extensive airtime on Fox News programming while endorsing Republican candidates aligned with his political interests.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-bashes-fox-news-for-covering-sleazebag-tom-steyer-right-after-interviewing-his-favorite-california-candidate/)

Trump Posts Jesus-Like Picture of Himself Amid Pope Leo Feud

President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ performing a miraculous healing on a sick man, complete with religious iconography including a glowing hand, American flags, the Statue of Liberty, fighter jets, and angelic soldiers. The image also featured a praying woman, a person in what appears to be an Immigration and Customs Enforcement uniform, and a nurse observing Trump’s supposed miracle work in a hospital setting.

Trump posted the image approximately 40 minutes after launching a hostile attack on Pope Leo XIV over the pontiff’s criticism of the Iran war. Trump branded the pope “WEAK” on crime and nuclear weapons, calling him “terrible” on foreign policy. Trump also attacked the pope’s brother, Louis Prevost, claiming he preferred him because Prevost was “all MAGA,” demonstrating Trump’s weaponization of family members to escalate conflicts.

The pope’s criticism stemmed from Trump’s threats to obliterate “a whole civilization” in Iran if its leadership refused to make a deal, which the pontiff called “truly unacceptable.” Pope Leo XIV subsequently declared that “God does not bless any conflict.” The pope had previously denounced the Trump administration’s “extremely disrespectful” treatment of undocumented immigrants, establishing a pattern of moral opposition to Trump’s policies.

When speaking to reporters at Air Force One on Sunday evening, Trump doubled down on his attacks, stating “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” and describing Pope Leo XIV as “a very liberal person” who “doesn’t believe in stopping crime.” Trump’s messaging contradicted the pope’s actual position on nuclear proliferation while mischaracterizing the pontiff’s humanitarian stances.

The AI-generated image and accompanying tirade reflect Trump’s pattern of appropriating religious imagery and language to reinforce a messianic narrative among his supporters, while simultaneously attacking religious figures who challenge his military and immigration policies. The juxtaposition of the image with the pope attack demonstrated Trump’s weaponization of faith rhetoric to delegitimize moral opposition to his authoritarian actions.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-posts-jesus-like-picture-of-himself-performing-miracle-on-sick-man-minutes-after-ramping-up-feud-with-pope-leo/)

Trump Demands Fox News Take Jessica Tarlov off Air

President Donald Trump demanded Fox News remove co-host Jessica Tarlov from the air, calling her “a real loser” and criticizing her voice, statements, and overall presence on the network. Trump posted his demand on Truth Social, claiming Tarlov uses “fake numbers” and “fake polls” while expressing his dislike for her work, though he added he was “sure she’s a lovely person.”

Trump also targeted Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream, criticizing her interview with Democratic Representative Jake Auchincloss and instructing her to correct Democratic guests when they present what he calls “propaganda and lies.” The president objected to Bream’s characterization of the SAVE Act, insisting it be called the “SAVE America Act,” a distinction he emphasized as significant.

This marks a continued pattern of Trump attacking Fox News personalities who he perceives as insufficiently loyal or critical of his positions. In 2024, Trump accused Bream of conducting an “anti-MAGA” interview with his attorney, and he has repeatedly called Tarlov a “loser” in previous public statements, including during a March appearance on The Five when Tarlov was absent.

Trump’s demand reflects his expectation that media outlets, including Fox News, align with his messaging without independent editorial judgment or hosting of opposing viewpoints. His explicit instruction to “Fox executives” to remove Tarlov demonstrates an abuse of power, using his position as president to pressure media organizations into personnel decisions based on his personal preferences rather than journalistic merit.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-demands-fox-news-take-host-off-air-a-real-loser/)

Trump Threatens Iran War Crimes, Falsely Blames Media for Pilot Leak

During a Monday White House briefing, Trump used a press conference ostensibly about a successful pilot rescue to threaten extensive war crimes against Iran, including attacks on civilian infrastructure like bridges, power plants, and desalinization facilities. Trump falsely claimed that American journalists had revealed the downed pilot's location to Iran, when an Israeli journalist citing Iranian state media actually broke the story first, then demanded the identification and prosecution of the supposed leaker.

Trump reiterated threats to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure after an 8 p.m. Tuesday deadline, stating "they're gonna have no bridges, they're gonna have no power plants" and describing the outcome as returning Iran to the "stone ages." When confronted about violations of post-World War II international law prohibiting attacks on civilian targets, Trump dismissed the concern and attacked the New York Times reporter who posed the question rather than address the substance of the war crimes allegation.

Trump claimed he had intercepted communications from Iranians urging the U.S. to continue bombing their neighborhoods, asserting they would "suffer that in order to have freedom" under his campaign to weaken Iran's government. He also proposed that the U.S. could charge "tolls" for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, framing such extraction as payment for a war he claimed the U.S. had already won, despite ongoing conflict.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spent the briefing praising Trump for ordering a routine rescue mission as if it were an extraordinary achievement, with Hegseth claiming the current bombing campaign represents the "largest volume" of munitions dropped on Iran since the war began. Trump also employed a racist slur during the event, underscoring the press conference's chaotic and inflammatory tone.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal and stated that Iran is reviewing a Pakistani-authored pause plan ahead of Trump's deadline. Baghaei emphasized that negotiations are incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes, and that Iran would release its formal response in due time.

(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-iran-press-conference-war-crime-threats-b2952604.html)

1 2 3 4 5 6 … 79