President Donald Trump escalated his long-standing feud with the American press on Sunday, suggesting that certain news organizations should face “charges for treason” for their coverage of the ongoing military conflict with Iran.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the 79-year-old president accused major media outlets of collaborating with Tehran to disseminate AI-generated “disinformation” regarding U.S. military losses. The outburst marks a significant intensification of the administration’s rhetoric as “Operation Epic Fury”—the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign to topple the Iranian government—enters a critical phase.
Allegations of AI-Generated Propaganda
The president’s remarks centered on reports concerning the status of U.S. naval and air assets. Trump specifically disputed a Wall Street Journal report alleging that five Air Force refueling planes were damaged during a missile strike at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
He also claimed that viral footage appearing to show the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier on fire was a sophisticated fabrication.
“Buildings and Ships that are shown to be on fire are not — It’s FAKE NEWS, generated by A.I.,” Trump wrote. “The story was knowingly FAKE and, in a certain way, you can say that those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought up on Charges for TREASON.”
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While the president’s rhetoric is characteristically blunt, some of his claims regarding the footage align with independent fact-checking. On March 10, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that social media videos purportedly showing the USS Abraham Lincoln under attack were indeed AI-generated. Both the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command (Centcom) have denied that the carrier was struck.
FCC Scrutiny of Broadcast Licenses
Beyond the accusations of treason, the president signaled a move toward regulatory retaliation. He expressed support for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr’s recent efforts to review the broadcast licenses of major news organizations.
“I’m so thrilled to see Brendan Carr… looking at the licenses of some of these Corrupt and Highly Unpatriotic ‘News’ Organizations,” Trump stated, complaining that these outlets receive “Billions of Dollars of FREE American Airwaves” to “perpetuate LIES.”
The White House doubled down on this stance Monday. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly told reporters that the “fake news” has consistently amplified “anti-American propaganda” during the war.
“Any so-called ‘reporter’ pushing these lies should look inward as to why they are propping up a regime that has chanted ‘Death to America’ for decades,” Kelly said.
A Pattern of Escalation
Sunday’s post is the latest in a rapid-fire series of personal attacks against individual journalists. On March 14, Trump targeted New York Times correspondent Maggie Haberman, labeling her a “sleazebag” and threatening to include her in an ongoing Florida-based lawsuit against the publication.
Other female journalists, including CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, The Washington Post’s Natalie Allison, and The New York Times’ Katie Rogers, have also been the subject of recent derisive social media posts by the president.
The administration’s aggressive stance extends beyond the press corps. Trump recently suggested that Democratic lawmakers questioning the conduct of the war should be investigated for “sedition.”
Context of the Conflict
The war with Iran began on February 28, following a series of massive U.S. and Israeli strikes aimed at neutralizing Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and removing the current leadership. As the conflict continues, the administration has increasingly framed domestic dissent and critical reporting as a direct threat to national security.
The Pentagon has declined to comment further on specific operational losses, citing security protocols, though Centcom maintained its stance that the USS Abraham Lincoln remains fully operational.
