CNN Fires Back After Trump Orders Investigation Into Network

S.-Iran ceasefire.

According to Newsweek, CNN insists its reporting was sound, saying the disputed language came directly from known Iranian officials and had already appeared across multiple regime-controlled outlets. In a statement emailed to the outlet, a CNN spokesperson maintained that the network followed standard verification procedures and relied on official Iranian channels for the material that President Trump is now challenging.

President Trump, who had set an 8 p.m. EDT deadline for Iran to reopen traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and warned Tehran could be taken out in one night, announced a ceasefire just before the deadline expired. Hours later, he took to Truth Social, declaring that The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows, and alleging, 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.

He further warned that Authorities are looking to determine whether or not a crime was committed on the issuance of the Fake CNN World Statement, pointedly asking whether it was a sick rogue player? and demanding the reports immediate removal and an apology. In an earlier post, Trump shared what he said was the authentic Iranian statement from Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, which read in part, If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.

CNNs live blog, by contrast, ran the headline, Iran claims victory, says it forced US to accept 10-point plan, asserting that Irans Supreme National Security Council had achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan. The report went further, stating, As part of the plan, the US has in principle agreed to lift all primary and secondary sanctions against Iran and to withdraw US combat forces from all bases in the region, the council said, and that It has also agreed to accept Irans nuclear enrichment and recognize its continued control over the Strait of Hormuz, according to the council.

On-air, CNN correspondent Matthew Chance doubled down, telling Anderson Cooper that the statement had already appeared on state news agencies in Iran, like the Fars News Agency and the semiofficial Tasnim News Agency as well. He added that when President Trump objected, I followed up with the Iranian Foreign Ministry and said, look, do you have this document that you can send to me? And they sent me the document themselves, which is exactly the same as the document we originally had. And so I think we're pretty confident, very confident that this document is, you know, is authentic.

The White House Rapid Response account publicly sided with President Trump, posting, ATTENTION @cnni: As @POTUS just said, Irans official statement is linked in his TRUTH below AND posted by the Iranian foreign minister. This alleged statement by Iran is a FRAUD! Correct immediately! and amplifying his demand for a correction. President Trump himself reiterated on Truth Social: 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 DONALD J. TRUMP.

Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, condemned the networks conduct, saying, More outrageous conduct from CNN. Fake news is bad enough for the country, but pushing out a hoax headline in such a sensitive national security moment as this requires accountability. Iran put out an official statement that simply cannot be squared with the one CNN's false headline attributes to them. Time for change at CNN.

With President Trump promising that the outcome of the investigation will be announced in the near future, conservatives are likely to keep pressing for accountability from a network they see as emblematic of a media establishment too willing to trust hostile foreign regimes while casting doubt on an American president.