Trump and Noem want CNN prosecuted for Iran, immigration reporting
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President Trump speaks with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as they tour a migrant detention center in Ochopee, Fla., on July 1. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday endorsed the idea of prosecuting CNN for its critical coverage of U.S. strikes in Iran and reporting on an app that warns of immigration raids.
The big picture: Trump's years-long disdain for the media spiked after multiple outlets covered a leaked preliminary report on the strikes, with the president calling for reporters to be fired and threatening to sue The New York Times and CNN.
- The Defense Intelligence Agency's initial assessment estimated that Iran's nuclear program had only been set back by months, rather than Trump's repeated claim that it was "obliterated."
- CNN's recent report on an app that alerts users about ICE sightings sparked further outrage.
Driving the news: Asked Tuesday about border czar Tom Homan's comment that the DOJ "needs to look" at CNN's reporting about the app, Noem said she's coordinating the Justice Department to "see if we can prosecute them."
- "We're going to actually go after them and prosecute them with the partnership of Pam [Bondi] if we can," she said.
- Trump suggested CNN could be "prosecuted also for having given false reports on the attack on Iran." CNN defended its reporting on the leaked assessment, which officials have emphasized was low confidence but have not denied exists.
- "What they did there we think is totally illegal," Trump said.
What they're saying: "This is an app that is publicly available to any iPhone user who wants to download it," a CNN spokesperson told Axios in a statement.
- "There is nothing illegal about reporting the existence of this or any other app, nor does such reporting constitute promotion or other endorsement of the app by CNN," the spokesperson continued.
Zoom out: Trump, in a Thursday Truth Social post, blamed Democrats for leaking the assessment and called for them to be prosecuted.
- In an interview that aired Sunday on Fox News, he doubled down, suggesting reporters should be subpoenaed for their sources.
Catch up quick: The threats play into Trump's broader war against traditional outlets and his push to delegitimize reporting he deems "fake news."
- Before the 2024 election, Trump sued CBS News, alleging it engaged in "voter interference" for editing an interview with former Vice President Kamala Harris. In April, Trump slammed polls showing his approval ratings sagging, saying outlets should be investigated for election fraud.
- The second Trump administration has barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One. It also tried to gut government-funded media and has sought to nix funds for NPR and PBS.
Friction point: That squeeze has left some media executives reportedly instructing newsrooms to temper their coverage in fear of retribution, Axios' Sara Fischer and Christine Wang report.
Go deeper: Trump administration scolds reporters on Iran strike coverage
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a comment from CNN.
