Trump Labels NYT and CNN 'Seditious' Over Iran War Coverage, Claims US Is Decimating Iran

President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of the media on Thursday, accusing The New York Times and CNN of being "seditious" in their coverage of the Iran war. He argued that if these outlets were the primary sources for news, audiences would believe Iran is "winning the war."

"Every day I read about how well they’re doing militarily," Trump told White House pool reporters in the Oval Office. "But they’ve got nothing left. They’re done. And yet I read in The New York Times, I see on that stupid CNN — which I only watch because you have to watch a little bit of the enemy, so I watch it for a very short period, but … you have to be smart."

He continued, "If you see CNN, you’d think that they’re winning the war. If you read The New York Times — it’s actually seditious, in my opinion. You read The New York Times, you actually think they’re winning the war. I read some of these columnists, but it all starts from the top. It’s a terrible thing."

"I read in The New York Times, I see on that stupid CNN — which I only watch because you have to watch a little bit of the enemy… If you see CNN, you’d think [Iran’s] winning the war."
— President Donald Trump, April 30, 2026

This is not the first time Trump has accused the free press of publishing "fake news" intended to undermine his administration. However, it has become a recurring theme in the first 60 days of his war in Iran.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Trump claimed Iran believes "we’re crazy" for promoting such news and that they know they’re losing. "They have no Navy, they have no airfare, they have no nothing," he said. "We can fly right over the middle of Tehran without being shot at because they have no anti-aircraft — they have nothing. And they’re reading that they’re winning the war. They’re trying to figure out. They get The New York Times I guess, in some form. And they think we’re crazy."

He added, "But you know, I’m supposed to be negotiating, and they make you negotiate from weakness, not strength, but the difference is I don’t care. And everybody knows the facts. We are decimating that country."

"Iran has no navy, they have no air force, they have nothing. We are decimating their country and yet The New York Times will tell you that they are winning the war. It’s ridiculous."
— President Donald Trump, April 30, 2026

Trump also recounted receiving a call from the leader of an unnamed Middle Eastern nation earlier Thursday, who allegedly begged him to halt the war because Iran is "decimated."

"‘Sir, please don’t hit them anymore, they’re decimated,’" Trump recalled the leader saying. "He’s actually helping them,"