US escalation against 'CNN': Pentagon and White House attack war coverage with Iran

The relationship between the US administration and the media has seen a new escalation, as the Pentagon and the White House directed harsh criticism at 'CNN' over its coverage of the war with Iran. This attack comes at a sensitive time when the region is witnessing intense military operations, reflecting the depth of the gap between official discourse and independent journalistic reports.

During a press conference held on Friday, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth dedicated part of his speech to attacking the news network, focusing on a report that addressed Tehran's military capabilities. Hegseth considered what the network published about the possibility of Washington underestimating Iran's ability to close the Strait of Hormuz to be completely lacking in credibility.

The US Secretary described the report as 'clearly absurd,' demanding the emergence of what he called 'true national journalism' that aligns with national interests in times of conflict. Hegseth did not stop at criticizing the content but also touched upon the administrative aspects of the network, expressing his hope for its ownership and management to transfer to new parties as soon as possible.

In his statements, Hegseth referred to David Ellison, head of 'Paramount Skydance,' as a prospective replacement to lead the network, considering his assumption of the position a positive step. These statements come as Ellison's company prepares to complete a massive acquisition deal for 'Warner Bros. Discovery,' the owner of the news network.

This shift in ownership is linked to political balances, as Larry Ellison, David's father and founder of 'Oracle,' is one of the primary funders of the deal and a prominent supporter of President Trump. Despite these ties, David Ellison had previously pledged to maintain the editorial independence of the network and not subject it to political pressures.

For its part, the White House entered the fray through its spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, who used the 'X' platform to describe the network's report as '100% fake.' Leavitt confirmed that military plans to confront any threat in the Strait of Hormuz have been in place and ready for implementation for decades, and are an integral part of the current strategy.

The spokesperson clarified that scenarios for dealing with the closure of maritime passages were included in the Trump administration's plans even before the launch of the large-scale military operation known as 'Raging Fury.' She stressed that questioning American readiness is not based on factual evidence but aims to stir unwarranted concern.

In contrast, 'CNN' management was quick to respond to these accusations, with its CEO Mark Thompson issuing a statement defending the integrity of the network's journalistic work. Thompson affirmed that the primary goal always remains to convey the truth to viewers, regardless of the nature of the pressures that the executive authority may exert.

Thompson concluded his statement by noting that political leaders usually resort to questioning the credibility of the press when it raises fundamental questions about their fateful decisions. He stressed that threats and insults will not deter the network from performing its professional duty of monitoring power and providing accurate information to the global public.

Any political threat or insult will not change our commitment to telling the truth to viewers in the United States and around the world.