US-Iran War Public Opinion Censorship Intensifies; Trump and Officials Unite to Pressure American Media

Author: Bryan Steele

On Sunday evening, U.S. President Donald Trump gave a speech to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back to Washington, D.C.

In response to American media reports about the Iran war, the Trump administration nearly daily issues new criticisms—sometimes three times a day.

President Trump has used words like “criminal” and “unpatriotic” to attack media outlets; Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to revoke broadcast licenses; Secretary of Defense P. J. Hegseth publicly insulted the press at a Pentagon briefing.

This “attack messenger” strategy is blatant, but it may also reveal a certain government anxiety: either discomfort with the unusually low public support for the war or doubts about its actual progress.

After hearing Hegseth’s criticism last Friday, CNN senior political commentator David Axelrod commented, “It feels like they’ve made a decision: if the war news isn’t good, then attack those reporting it.”

Axelrod speculated that Trump “envies” countries without the First Amendment: “Putin doesn’t have to put up with this!”

Mainstream media outlets have not backed down in the face of government criticism. They understand that efforts to suppress and smear wartime reporting are as old as war itself.

As CNN Chairman and CEO Mark Thompson recently stated in a statement: “Politicians clearly have motives to claim that news reports questioning their decisions are false. At CNN, our only mission is to tell the truth to the American and global audiences—no amount of political threats or insults can change that.”

That said, these statements are still worth attention and analysis because they offer a window into the president’s worldview and shape his supporters’ perceptions.

Trump’s attacks on the media, usually a subdued background roar, have now become an unusually loud outcry. On Sunday night, he repeatedly dismissed sharp questions about the war with the phrase “fake news.” He accused Iran of spreading false information, while himself disseminating some untruths.

Moreover, this wartime media criticism is not limited to the White House but spans the entire government—cabinet officials, regulatory agencies, and MAGA allies are all involved in jointly suppressing independent reporting.

Trump Shouts “Treason”

“I really think this is almost a criminal act,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Sunday. “Because our so-called credible media companies are publishing knowingly false information.”

That evening, Trump posted a 401-word long article on Truth Social, fiercely attacking “corrupt media.”

He accurately pointed out that fake AI-generated videos are circulating online, depicting fabricated Iranian military victories. CNN, The New York Times, and other outlets have been debunking these videos.

However, Trump then falsely claimed that Iran is working closely with “fake news media” to spread these videos, including a clearly faked footage of the USS Lincoln on fire. He wrote, “It can be said that those media outlets producing these videos should be prosecuted for treason!”

Contrary to Trump’s accusations, these fake videos, though widespread on YouTube, are not propagated by responsible media outlets.

On Sunday night aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed frustration over the proliferation of AI-generated videos. He repeatedly criticized AI and claimed that “Iran is known for producing大量假新闻”—the term “fake news” he popularized a decade ago to discredit American mainstream media, is now being used again.

“I really think this is almost a criminal act,” Trump continued. “Because our so-called credible media companies are publishing knowingly false information.”

Media outlets have no motivation to do so. Their entire business model is built on truthful information, although the “fog of war” makes it extremely difficult to distinguish fact from fiction during wartime.

When an ABC reporter mentioned that Trump’s political action committee (PAC) used a solemn transfer ceremony photo of fallen U.S. soldiers in Kuwait in a fundraising email, Trump was furious. “Do you think it’s appropriate to send such an email to ABC?” he retorted, then looked around the plane for other questioners.

When the same ABC reporter later tried to ask a simple question about U.S. troop deployments in the region—“Can you explain why we’re sending 5,000 Marines and sailors?”—Trump responded, “You’re a very annoying person.”

FCC’s “Attack Dog”

This weekend, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to revoke local broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage.

Also on Sunday, Trump praised Carr, whom he personally appointed—Carr had visited Trump earlier at Mar-a-Lago.

During his visit to Mar-a-Lago, Carr posted on X (formerly Twitter), threatening to revoke broadcast licenses, attaching a recent tweet from Trump complaining about war coverage.

Interestingly, Trump’s public complaints targeted The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, which are not regulated by the FCC. But local TV stations, which broadcast over public airwaves with licenses valid for eight years, are under FCC jurisdiction. “Broadcast companies must operate in the public interest, or they will lose their licenses,” Carr wrote.

Experts told CNN that Carr has little actual power to revoke TV licenses, but they say the potential chilling effect remains concerning.

Several Democratic lawmakers condemned Carr’s threats, calling them dictatorial.

“This is retaliatory, fascist behavior,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X, adding, “If Carr continues down this path, Democrats will hold him accountable. Threatening to revoke broadcast licenses over war reporting that the current government doesn’t like is the worst thing Carr has done—and it says a lot.”

Some of Trump’s staunchest allies also expressed concern. Republican Senator Ron Johnson told Fox News that he supports the First Amendment and dislikes government coercion, regardless of who is using it.

But Trump posted Sunday night that he was pleased that Carr “is reviewing these corrupt and extremely unpatriotic ‘news’ organizations’ licenses.”

Hegseth Battles Headlines

Defense Secretary P. J. Hegseth (former Fox News host) made media criticism a central theme at a Pentagon briefing last Friday.

Hegseth, who closely follows daily coverage, suggested that major TV networks replace headlines like “Middle East War Escalates” with his preferred phrase: “Iran Desperately Fights Back.”

Coincidentally, two days later, Hegseth’s show “Fox & Friends Weekend” used the headline “Middle East War Escalates” in its coverage.

At the briefing, Hegseth also condemned CNN’s reporting that the Trump administration underestimated the potential impact of Iran’s war on the Strait of Hormuz. He mentioned Paramount’s upcoming acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (including CNN) and named Paramount CEO David Eason.

“The sooner David Eason takes over that network, the better,” Hegseth said, drawing surprised and displeased reactions from some reporters.

Last week, the White House also criticized CNN multiple times, including opposing the network’s airing of the first public speech by Iran’s new Supreme Leader. CNN said airing those remarks was “due to their obvious news value.”

Later, the Trump White House issued a press release falsely claiming, “CNN is lying to sabotage the overwhelming success of the ‘Epic Fury Operation.’” Thompson then issued a statement emphasizing, “We stand by our journalistic position,” and said the network would not be swayed.

On Sunday, the First Amendment Coalition, a free speech organization restructured last year by Jane Fonda, linked Carr, Hegseth, and others’ attacks on the media.

“Undoubtedly, these are direct assaults on the First Amendment and part of a deliberate move toward authoritarianism,” the coalition stated. “In such a world, journalists are punished for telling the truth, media companies must comply, and dissent is viewed as a threat.”

“But that future is not inevitable,” the coalition continued. “Don’t give in prematurely. Speak out loudly, stand with journalists, and defend the freedoms that make moments like this possible. None of this is normal—we must act together.”