President Trump has pushed back against reporting from CNN, which he claimed pushed a false narrative regarding the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. Following reports of a ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, CNN shared alleged statements from Iranian officials who claimed the deal was “a great victory” for Iran in bringing the U.S. to the negotiating table by strategic closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows,” President Trump said in a Truth Social post on Tuesday night. “The false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a “legitimate” headline.”
CNN defended its story, saying the headline was sourced from Iranian government officials. The president referred readers to the statement released by the Iranian government, which confirmed a ceasefire agreement and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The official statement characterized the ceasefire as an agreement to end defensive operations, rather than as a claim of victory for Iran. He questioned CNN’s sourcing for the original headline and demanded the withdrawal of the story, which he said was also under investigation.
“The Official Statement by Iran was just released, and posted on TRUTH, below. Authorities are looking to determine whether or not a crime was committed on the issuance of the Fake CNN World Statement, or was it a sick rogue player?” President Trump said. “CNN is being ordered to immediately withdraw this Statement with full apologies for their, as usual, terrible ‘reporting.’ Results of the investigation will be announced in the near future.”
President Trump followed up with another post on Truth Social, claiming the headline was fabricated to disrupt the sensitive process of peace negotiations.
“No one can believe that Fake News CNN put out a knowingly false and dangerous statement pretending it came from the upper levels of the Iranian Government. It didn’t!” President Trump said. “It was totally made up and posted, as a headline, for the purpose of, perhaps, inflaming a very delicate situation. It was a new, trouble making site from Nigeria, and CNN just got caught cheating – A very dangerous thing to do!”