The mystery surrounding who first exposed the existence of a second missing American airman in Iran has sharpened after an Israeli journalist publicly acknowledged his role, even as President Donald Trump demands accountability for what he calls a dangerous national security leak.
According to Gateway Pundit, the controversy centers on a high-stakes rescue mission in Iran that the president has described as an Easter miracle, and on the medias rush to publicize sensitive operational details before all U.S. personnel were safely out. As reported by Gateway Pundit, an Israeli political commentator, Amit Segal of Channel 12, has now admitted he was among the earliest to publish information indicating that while one American crew member had been recovered, another remained missing on hostile territory.
The drama began after a U.S. fighter jet went down in Iran, triggering an urgent rescue effort that recovered one pilot quickly while a second airman, the weapons systems officer, spent days evading Iranian forces. That officer survived intense firefights before being pulled out in what has been described as a daring operation that highlighted the courage and skill of American special operators, including SEAL Team 6, who were thrust into grave danger once the leak occurred.
Trump, speaking from the White House, made clear he believes the premature disclosure of the second missing airmans status was reckless and potentially catastrophic. As you probably know, we didnt talk about the first one for an hour, and then somebody leaked something, which well hopefully find that leaker; were looking very hard to find that leaker, and talked about theres somebody missing, Trump said to reporters on Monday.
He underscored that the public would not have known there was still a missing American until someone inside the information chain tipped off the press. They basically said that we have one, and theres somebody missing. Well, they didnt know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information! Trump said.
The president vowed to pursue the source of the leak by pressing the outlet that first ran the story, framing the issue squarely as a matter of national security rather than press privilege. So whoever it is, we think well be able to find it out, because were going to go to the media company that released it. And were going to say, national security, give it up or go to jail.
Trump argued that the leak effectively alerted the entire Iranian regime that an American airman was still on the run inside their territory, turning an already perilous mission into a manhunt. Theres some things you cant do. When they did that, all of a sudden, the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot that was somewhere on their land that was fighting for his life! Trump said.
He went on to note that Tehran responded by incentivizing its citizens to capture the stranded American, further heightening the risk to the airman and to U.S. forces trying to reach him. He continued, Because a leaker leaked because we have one we rescued one, but theres another one out there that were trying to get, actually, the country, Iran, put out.. offering a very big award for anybody that captures the pilot.
Trump condemned the leak as a betrayal that endangered not only the missing airman but also the large number of American personnel deployed to bring him home. They put this mission, that man at great risk, and hundreds of people looking for him! he added.
The president also issued a stark warning to the journalist behind the story, signaling that he believes criminal penalties are appropriate when media conduct crosses into jeopardizing lives. The person that did the story will go to jail if he doesnt say! Trump said.
While Trump did not specify which outlet he had in mind, major legacy media organizations including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Axios, and Fox News all reported on the downed jet. Israels Channel 12 was also among the first to cover the incident, raising questions about whether foreign media, unconstrained by American political considerations, may have been even quicker to publish sensitive details.
Amit Segal, a prominent Channel 12 anchor and political commentator closely aligned with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud Party, later took to his Telegram channel to acknowledge his role in publicizing the initial scoop. Segal wrote on his Telegram channel:
Trump: We didnt talk about the first one we rescued, and then someone leaked something about the navigator. Were going to find whoever leaked it. Whoever it is well manage to track them down through the network that published it, well ask for the leaker. Well say its national security, and therefore it could end up in prison.
Trending: President Trump Says Somebody Leaked Information About Downed Fighter Jet and Missing Pilot to Media (VIDEO)
As you may recall, this was first published here.
When contacted by the New York Post, however, Segal softened his earlier claim, conceding that he could not be certain he was the very first to break the story. When confronted by the New York Post, Segal walked back his earlier claim, admitting he was not sure he had broken the story first, before adding that he would still protect his sources.
Yahoo News highlighted reporting by the New York Posts Caitlin Doornbos, who reconstructed the timeline of Segals coverage last Friday. The New York Posts Caitlin Doornbos explained the timeline around Segals reporting last Friday, noting:
The Post was unable to immediately find the clip, but Channel 12 reporter Amit Segal posted the information to X at 11:19 a.m on Friday. Western source: One of the American crew members was successfully rescued, he wrote.
Segal later told Doornbos that he remains committed to shielding those who provided him information, even amid Trumps calls for legal consequences. Segal, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud Party, spoke to Doornbos about Trumps comments. Im not sure I was the first, Segal said about the report the airman had been rescued, which meant the other was still unaccounted for.
And anyway I will protect my sources, Segal told Doornbos. The clash between Trumps insistence on safeguarding national security and a media culture increasingly willing to publish operational details in real time underscores a deeper tension: whether journalistic ambition and anti-Trump sentiment in establishment and foreign outlets are now routinely placed above the safety of American warriors operating behind enemy lines.
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