NY Times Hits Back Hard at Trump Accusing Its Reporter of Treason' For Constitutionally Protected Work'

"What would the use be in repeating the bombing? Sanger asked. You did it for 38 days and you did not get the political changes in Iran. Trump immediately rejected the premise of the question and launched into a lengthy tirade against the reporter and The Times. I got a total military victory. But the fake news, guys like you, write incorrectly. You're a fake guy, Trump said."

"People like you that don't write the truth, you know, you should write, he continued. I actually think it's sort of treasonous what you write, but you and The New York Times and CNN I would say are the worst. You should be ashamed of yourself, Trump added. I actually think it is treason when you write, like, They're doing well militarily,' and they have no navy, no air force, no anti-anything."

"Hours later a spokesperson for The Times pushed back against Trump's comments in a public statement: Reporting isn't treason. It's foundational to a free press and the work that America's founders wrote the First Amendment to protect. That includes making clear when the claims of government officials and the reality of their actions don't line up. Our reporters, in this case, have been working carefully to provide the public with the fullest possible understanding of the reality of the military action in Iran."

"We will continue this important, constitutionally protected work. Since the outset of the campaign against Iran, the White House and Pentagon have criticized cable news networks and major outlets for its reporting on the war. New: The Mediaite O"

A dispute arose between President Donald Trump and a New York Times correspondent during an Air Force One press exchange about potential renewed strikes on Iran. The correspondent questioned the value of repeating bombing after 38 days without political change in Iran. Trump rejected the premise and attacked the reporter and the newspaper, calling the reporting treasonous and accusing it of writing falsehoods. The correspondent did not respond during the exchange. Later, a New York Times spokesperson issued a statement asserting that reporting is not treason and is protected by the First Amendment. The statement said reporters work to explain the reality of military actions and to clarify when official claims do not match outcomes.

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