Jake Tapper slams Trump for claiming CNN ‘lied’ about Iran strike, says he's 'shooting the messengers'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Jake Tapper came out swinging Wednesday night, June 25, kicking off 'The Lead' with a 10-minute monologue defending his employer.

The CNN anchor was ready to take on President Donald Trump, his administration, and anyone else coming for his network’s credibility after a controversial report about US military strikes in Iran.

It all began when CNN dropped a bombshell report claiming that, according to an early Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment, those recent strikes on Iran didn’t completely wipe out key parts of the country’s nuclear program. In fact, it might’ve only slowed things down for a few months and not years, like the White House had insisted.

Trump didn’t take that well and dismissed CNN as "fake news."

So, Tapper stepped up to defend the network’s reporting.

“CNN was first to report that one early DIA — or Defense Intelligence Agency assessment — suggested that the US Military strikes on Iran this weekend did not completely destroy the core components of Iran’s nuclear program, setting back the program by only a few months, not a few years,” Tapper began.

“Now, it’s a low-confidence assessment — meaning that the DIA is far from sure about it. It was described to CNN by seven people briefed on the DIA assessment, and our reporting stressed that the assessment’s conclusion could evolve as new information comes to light,” he explained.

Tapper claimed CNN didn’t just run with it blindly — they gave the White House a heads-up first.

“Now, CNN reached out to the White House before reporting on this DIA, Intel assessment, and the White House attacked the assessment but confirmed that it exists. Even President Trump himself today confirmed it," he said, as quoted by Mediaite.

Jake Tapper rips Donald Trump for 'shooting the messenger’

But things escalated quickly after CNN polished the report. The White House fired back at the network as well as the journalists behind the report, particularly Natasha Bertrand. Trump called for Bertrand to be fired and thrown out "like a dog."

“Today, President Trump and his administration are going after shooting the messengers in an increasingly ugly way,” Tapper said. “They’re calling journalists ‘fake news’ for true stories. They’re calling for an excellent CNN reporter, Natasha Bertrand, to be fired, which is preposterous — and to which a CNN statement today reads, ‘we stand 100% behind Natasha Bertrand’s journalism,’ as they should. The Trump administration is also accusing any news media who reports on this intel assessment as not being patriotic.”

Tapper made it a point to separate criticism of the mission’s success from disrespecting the service members who carried it out.

“The key questions for the American people in the world are simply about the degree of success of the operation, and the current state of Iran’s nuclear weapons program and what the intelligence — not the politicians — what the intelligence reveals,” he said. “Our obligation as journalists is not to praise President Trump, or protect his feelings, or to disparage him, or to praise him — for that matter. Our obligation is to report facts.”

“In this case, the fact is that an initial DIA intel assessment out of Secretary Pete Hegseth’s own Pentagon exists. And that’s not going to change, no matter how many insults Trump levels," Tapper added.

As he wrapped up, Tapper gave an impassioned defense of journalism itself and why questioning the government is necessary. “We don’t know yet whether this administration is accurately portraying what happened in Iran or not. We don’t. That’s the point of publishing what we know that the government learns, once we learn it …" he insisted.

“The news media needs to press for facts, even if it’s uncomfortable. Even if, as Americans and as humans, there is a personal instinct to rally around the flag. Asking questions is literally our job, demanding facts and answers, instead of just taking a president’s word for it," Tapper continued.

“History has taught us that the most pro-service member action we can take is to ask questions of our leaders, especially in times of war. That, for journalists, is the height of patriotism," he added.

Jake Tapper excoriated on social media

That said, critics on social media ripped Tapper to shreds for his claims.

"So you didn’t do your 'job' for 4 years while Biden spewed nonsensical lies on the rare occasions that he was able to form a complete sentence?" one posted on X.

"They're job is to brainwash idiots who watch CNN! They get paid millions of dollars to lie!" another alleged.

"He wants accountability?? How about he starts with himself??" read a comment.

"If only Jake Tapper and CNN still had any ounce of credibility, then they wouldn't have to defend themselves," someone else offered.

"The fake Yapper will do anything to make a buck," another quipped.

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