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source_url: https://rollingout.com/2026/05/15/trump-accuses-reporter-treason-over-iran/
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President Donald Trump directed sharp criticism at a veteran New York Times journalist aboard Air Force One on Friday, May 15, calling the outlet’s coverage of the U.S. and Israel’s ongoing military operations in Iran treasonous.
The confrontation unfolded as Trump was returning from Beijing and took questions from reporters. Trump singled out David Sanger, the Times’ chief White House correspondent, calling him a fake guy and accusing him of writing incorrectly about the conflict, which has now stretched into its second month.
Trump insisted the military campaign had been a success, citing what he described as the dismantling of Iran’s navy, air force, anti aircraft systems, radar infrastructure and leadership. But he grew visibly agitated at what he characterized as distorted coverage of those results, telling Sanger he ought to be ashamed of himself and that his reporting amounted to treason. A spokesperson for the Times did not respond to a request for comment, and the White House declined to elaborate on the president’s remarks.
What Sanger’s reporting actually said
Sanger is no newcomer to high-stakes journalism. He has spent more than four decades at the Times, covering national security and foreign policy at the highest levels. Earlier this month, he reported that despite the administration’s upbeat messaging, Washington’s goals in Iran had not clearly been met. Iran’s nuclear stockpile, he noted, remains intact, and there are no signs that U.S. and Iranian officials are moving toward any kind of agreement to end the fighting.
That reporting appears to be what drew the president’s ire on Friday, as Trump’s account of a decisive military victory clashes with the picture Sanger and other journalists have painted of a conflict still very much in progress.
A pattern of attacking the press
Friday’s outburst was far from an isolated moment. Trump, 79, has made attacking reporters a consistent feature of his public appearances, often responding to questions he finds unfair or inconvenient with personal ridicule rather than substantive answers.
Just last week, Trump snapped at ABC News correspondent Rachel Scott during a press availability on the National Mall. After Scott asked about renovation projects in Washington during an active war, he dismissed the question as stupid and called Scott a horror show, adding that the question itself was a disgrace to the country.
That episode was one in a string of contentious exchanges, particularly with women in the White House press corps.
4 other notable clashes with journalists
Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg, Aboard Air Force One last November, Trump told Lucey to be quiet using a derogatory term after she asked about emails connected to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
An unnamed NYT reporter, Trump took to social media to call a female Times [journalist](https://rollingout.com/2026/04/25/tesla-fsd-promise-collapsed-earning-call/) ugly, inside and out, in a post that drew widespread criticism.
Mary Bruce, ABC News, During a White House press briefing, Trump called Bruce a terrible person and a terrible reporter.
Norah O’Donnell, CBS News, During a recent 60 Minutes interview, Trump grew furious when O’Donnell read from the alleged manifesto of Cole Tomas Allen, the suspected gunman in last month’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner. After the interview aired, Trump suggested O’Donnell brought nothing special to the job and could be replaced by almost anyone.
The bigger picture
Taken together, [Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump)‘s clashes with reporters reflect a sustained effort to undermine the credibility of journalists who report critically on his administration. Press freedom advocates have long warned that labeling journalists as treasonous carries serious implications, particularly during an active military conflict when such rhetoric can be used to justify restricting access or silencing coverage.
The war in Iran and its coverage are likely to remain flashpoints in the weeks ahead, as reporters continue pressing the White House for clarity on a conflict whose objectives, timeline and ultimate costs remain very much in dispute.