President Trump demands the firing of CNN’s Natasha Bertrand after her controversial reporting on Iranian nuclear strikes and a history of questionable journalism involving the Hunter Biden laptop story.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump called for CNN to fire correspondent Natasha Bertrand, accusing her of spreading “Fake News” about U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
- Bertrand reported that U.S. intelligence found the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by a few months, contradicting the administration’s claim of “total obliteration”.
- Trump referenced Bertrand’s previous controversial reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop, which she suggested was Russian disinformation before it was later authenticated.
- CNN has publicly defended Bertrand and her reporting, stating they “stand 100% behind” her journalism despite the President’s criticism
President Trump’s Demand for Accountability
In a pointed rebuke of what he views as deliberate misinformation, President Trump has called for the immediate termination of CNN correspondent Natasha Bertrand. The President’s criticism centers on Bertrand’s recent reporting about U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, which contradicted official administration assessments. Trump took to his Truth Social platform with unambiguous language about the reporter’s future at the network. The controversy highlights growing tensions between the administration and mainstream media outlets that continue to challenge the President’s foreign policy narratives.
“Natasha Bertrand should be FIRED from CNN! I watched her for three days doing Fake News. She should be IMMEDIATELY reprimanded, and then thrown out ‘like a dog’,” said Donald Trump, President of the United States.
Controversial Reporting on Iranian Strikes
The core of the dispute involves Bertrand’s reporting that U.S. intelligence assessments found the recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites only set back Tehran’s nuclear program by a few months. This directly contradicts the Trump administration’s position that the strikes “totally destroyed” the facilities, a view aligned with Israel’s assessment of significant damage. The President has characterized the preliminary U.S. intelligence report as incomplete and criticized the leak of this assessment, suggesting it undermines the successful military operation and damages the reputation of American pilots who executed the mission.
“She should not be allowed to work at Fake News CNN,” said Donald Trump, President of the United States.
A Pattern of Questionable Journalism
President Trump’s criticism extends beyond the Iran reporting, pointing to what he sees as a pattern of biased journalism from Bertrand. He specifically referenced her 2020 Politico story suggesting Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal could be Russian disinformation – a claim later proven false when the laptop and its contents were authenticated. This history of publishing stories that align with leftist narratives while dismissing legitimate concerns has reinforced perceptions that Bertrand’s reporting is driven more by political allegiance than journalistic integrity.
“She lied on the Laptop from Hell Story, and now she lied on the Nuclear Sites Story, attempting to destroy our Patriot Pilots by making them look bad when, in fact, they did a GREAT job and hit ‘pay dirt’ — TOTAL OBLITERATION!,” said Donald Trump, President of the United States.
CNN’s Defiant Response
Despite the President’s criticism, CNN has doubled down in defense of its correspondent. The network issued a statement supporting Bertrand’s reporting on the Iranian strikes, emphasizing that their coverage acknowledged the preliminary nature of the intelligence assessment. This stance reflects the increasingly combative relationship between CNN and the administration, even as the network has claimed to seek more balanced coverage of the President. Their refusal to address the substance of Trump’s criticism about Bertrand’s reporting history only reinforces concerns about media bias.
“We stand 100% behind Natasha Bertrand’s journalism and specifically her and her colleagues’ reporting of the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities,” stated the CNN PR team.
Media Accountability and Public Trust
This controversy highlights broader concerns about journalistic standards and accountability in mainstream media. Bertrand’s career trajectory – moving from Politico to CNN in April 2021 after several problematic stories – demonstrates how certain journalists seem to fail upward despite questionable reporting. President Trump’s direct challenge to CNN over Bertrand’s employment speaks to growing frustration with a media establishment that appears to reward those who advance preferred narratives regardless of accuracy. For conservative Americans already skeptical of mainstream media, this case exemplifies why trust in these institutions continues to erode.
“CNN’s reporting made clear that this was an initial finding that could change with additional intelligence,” according to a CNN spokesperson.
