President Trump calls for the immediate firing of CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, labeling her a chronic purveyor of “Fake News” who damages America’s reputation and undermines our military’s accomplishments.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump has demanded that CNN fire correspondent Natasha Bertrand over her reporting on U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, which he claims severely undermines both the network’s credibility and the reputation of American pilots.
- Bertrand reported that U.S. intelligence assessments found recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites only set back Tehran’s program by a few months, contradicting the Trump administration’s claims of “total obliteration.”
- Trump specifically referenced Bertrand’s previous controversial reporting on Hunter Biden’s laptop, which she suggested could be Russian disinformation, as evidence of a pattern of false reporting.
- CNN has stood firmly behind Bertrand, defending her reporting and claiming it accurately reflected initial intelligence assessments while acknowledging the president’s skepticism.
Trump Demands CNN Fire Bertrand Over Iran Strike Reporting
The escalating tension between President Trump and CNN reached new heights as the president called for the termination of national security correspondent Natasha Bertrand. The conflict stems from Bertrand’s reporting that U.S. intelligence found recent strikes on Iranian nuclear sites had only set back Tehran’s nuclear program by a few months. This assessment directly contradicts the Trump administration’s position that the strikes “totally destroyed” the targeted facilities, aligning with Israel’s assessment of significant damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
“Natasha Bertrand should be FIRED from CNN! I watched her for three days doing Fake News. She should be IMMEDIATELY reprimanded, and then thrown out ‘like a dog’,” said Donald Trump.
On his Truth Social platform, President Trump specifically targeted Bertrand’s qualifications and credibility, stating that “she should not be allowed to work at Fake News CNN.” The president further argued that the preliminary classified U.S. intelligence report cited by Bertrand was incomplete, and he criticized the unauthorized leak of this assessment. Trump maintains that Bertrand’s reporting constitutes an attempt to diminish the achievements of American military personnel who executed the precision strikes.
Bertrand’s History of Controversial Reporting
President Trump’s criticism of Bertrand extends beyond her current reporting on the Iranian strikes. He specifically referenced her previous controversial work regarding Hunter Biden’s laptop, which has become a significant point of contention. While at Politico in 2020, Bertrand authored a story suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop controversy might be Russian disinformation – a claim that has since been discredited as the laptop’s authenticity has been widely verified by multiple news organizations.
“She lied on the Laptop from Hell Story, and now she lied on the Nuclear Sites Story, attempting to destroy our Patriot Pilots by making them look bad when, in fact, they did a GREAT job and hit ‘pay dirt’ — TOTAL OBLITERATION!” said Donald Trump.
Bertrand joined CNN in April 2021 after stints covering national security and politics for Politico, The Atlantic, and Business Insider. Her reporting style and source selection have consistently drawn criticism from conservative circles, who argue her work frequently aligns with establishment narratives while downplaying or dismissing contrarian information. This pattern has made her a particular target for those concerned about media bias, especially regarding sensitive national security matters.
CNN Defends Its Reporter Amid Growing Scrutiny
CNN has stood firmly behind Bertrand, issuing multiple statements defending both her journalism and the specific reporting on the Iranian nuclear facility strikes. The network emphasized that their reporting acknowledged the preliminary nature of the intelligence assessment and included President Trump’s skepticism about its conclusions. CNN further argued that it was fulfilling its journalistic duty by accurately reporting the existence and findings of the assessment.
“We stand 100% behind Natasha Bertrand’s journalism and specifically her and her colleagues’ reporting of the U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities,” stated the CNN PR team.
The controversy comes at a challenging time for CNN, which has reportedly been attempting to neutralize its coverage of the Trump administration to counter perceptions of bias. Despite these efforts, President Trump has increased his criticism of the network and its staff, including prominent figures like Anderson Cooper. This latest confrontation highlights the ongoing tension between the administration’s drive for favorable coverage and CNN’s defense of its reporting practices, particularly on sensitive national security matters where competing assessments often exist.
