Donald Trump on Monday threatened an unnamed media outlet that reported on a downed military airman in Iran, warning that the disclosure risked jeopardizing an ultimately successful rescue mission.
A first airman was rescued within hours after the plane was shot down. The second, identified as a weapons system officer, was rescued early Sunday.
Trump told reporters in the White House Briefing Room during a midday press conference that on Friday “we didn’t talk about the first one for an hour. And then somebody leaked something, which we’ll hopefully find, that leaker. We’re looking very hard to find that leaker.”
He said the media outlet “basically said that we have one and there’s someone missing. Well, they didn’t know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information. So whoever it was, we think we’ll be able to find it out, because we’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re gonna say ‘national security. Give it up or go to jail.’ And we know who — and you know who we’re talking about.”
Trump said that “all of a sudden the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot that was somewhere on their land, fighting for his life. It also made it much more difficult for the pilots, and for the people going in to search for him.”
Trump announced today’s press conference on Sunday, hours after he published an expletive-laden, Easter Sunday Truth Social post that threatened that Tuesday will be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F—–’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
At the press conference, Trump continued to threaten to bomb Iranian power plants and bridges unless an agreement is reached before a deadline Tuesday.
Trump said that they have a plan “where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean, complete demolition … And it will happen over a period of four hours.”
Carried across networks, today’s presser came just as the Artemis II space mission was reaching a milestone: The furthest humans had traveled away from Earth. That feat went unmentioned, as much of the press conference was devoted to talking about the risky weekend rescue mission. Appearing with the president were CIA director John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Trump attacked other media outlets as well. When a reporter for the New York Times attempted to ask a question, the president interjected, “Failing New York Times.”
The reporter asked Trump whether he is concerned that attacks on power plants and bridges — civilian infrastructure — would violate the Geneva Conventions and international law.
“I hope I don’t have to do it,” Trump said. “I just said, 47 years we have been negotiating with these people.” He vowed that “they are not going to have nuclear weapons.”
The reporter tried to ask another question, but Trump said, “Quiet.” “You no longer have credibility at the New York Times.” He then claimed that the Times predicted he wouldn’t win the election. It was unclear what the president was referring to.
The briefing room, which has seats for about 50 reporters, was packed well beyond that, as other journalists packed the aisles and photographers stood on step-ladders. One wondered why the event wasn’t moved to the much larger East Room, but Trump has previously marveled at the sheer number of reporters who turn out in the smaller space.
After about 90 minutes, Trump called an end, but reporters continued to shout questions as he left. One shouted, “Mr. President, who do you want to win the Masters?” He didn’t answer.
The Trump White House has made it a point of credentialing a wider range of media outlets to include a greater mix of podcasters, new media and outright partisan journalists, including those who don’t hide their support for the president. As an example, the first reporter who asked a question thanked the president for his leadership. Yet as Trump exited, someone shouted, “Make peace great again!”
