Trump Calls New York Times Reporter David Sanger ‘Fake Guy’ Over Iran War Reporting

President Trump on Friday denounced New York Times reporter David Sanger aboard Air Force One, calling him a “fake guy” and saying, “It’s sort of treasonous what you write.”

The exchange came as Sanger pressed Trump on the U.S. military’s intensive campaign against Iran, including that it did not achieve political change in the country, while Iran retained its enriched nuclear material and exerted control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Akhbar as-Sa'udiyyah

Trump told Sanger he had “knocked out” Iran’s navy, air force, antiaircraft systems, radar and “all of their leaders,” and also claimed 85 percent of missile manufacturing capabilities had been eliminated.

The New York Times defended its reporting in a statement, with spokesman Charlie Stadtlander saying, “Reporting isn’t treason,” and adding that it is “foundational to a free press.”

The Hill reported that Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior administration officials have repeatedly complained about the media’s coverage of the conflict, which will enter its 12th week on Saturday.

In March, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcast licenses for networks he alleged were “running hoaxes and news distortions,” drawing criticism from Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as being “straight out of the authoritarian playbook.”

Al Jazeera

The Daily Beast described Trump’s rant as he told Sanger, “You’re a fake guy, and guys like you write about it incorrectly,” while also saying, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”

CNN’s framing in its headline said Trump falsely accused CNN & The New York Times of “treason” for reporting on the Iran war, placing the dispute squarely on the president’s characterization of coverage.

The Hill said Trump’s critique of media coverage came as he offered conflicting messages about whether the U.S. had been successful in its aims, even as the Pentagon insisted that joint U.S.-Israeli strikes have devastated Tehran’s military and set back aspects of its nuclear program.

Sanger’s earlier reporting, as cited by The Hill, said that while the Iranian ayatollah was “clearly gone,” Tehran’s nuclear stockpile remained untouched and the sides appeared no closer to reaching an agreement.

The Hill also reported that Trump accused the newspaper and Sanger of trying to make it appear as if Iran is “doing well,” while also saying he should be “ashamed.”

In the same broader dispute over information and accountability, the New York Times statement said its reporters “have been working carefully to provide the public with the fullest possible understanding of the reality of the military action in Iran” and would continue doing so.