Trump says leakers ‘should be shot’ as he renews attack on media over Iran strike

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Wednesday, October 14, that government officials who leak sensitive military information to the media “should be shot,” reiterating his call for severe punishment during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona.

Trump made the remarks while discussing an alleged leak concerning Operation Midnight Hammer, the US military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025. The president accused The New York Times and CNN of reporting details about the operation’s timing and claimed the disclosure had forced him to postpone the mission.

Trump claims media leaks delayed Operation Midnight Hammer

Trump told rally attendees that reporters had disclosed details about the timing of the military operation, including when US forces would depart from Missouri and when they would arrive at their destination.

“Somebody leaked, some sleazebag. They ought to go to jail or be shot. For the rest of their life, they should be in jail, but they leaked that we were leaving at 12:07 from Missouri, and it was in The New York Times, CNN,” Trump said.

The president added that the reported disclosure included departure and arrival times, alleging that Iran’s military was “waiting for” American troops. Trump said he contacted Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after learning about the alleged leak, and that they decided to change the mission’s timing.

“I called off the raid,” Trump said.

According to Trump, he and Caine decided two days later to proceed with the operation, deploying B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from the same Missouri base at the originally planned time.

“In my opinion, leakers should be shot,” he said, adding, “In the old days, we used to shoot leakers.”

Trump also defended his position by arguing that disclosing the timing of a military attack could endanger American personnel. He said the operation was intended to prevent Iran from obtaining a weapon capable of killing millions of people in a single strike.

The president also criticized journalists covering the rally, comparing them to people who disclose sensitive information and accusing them of publishing false reports.

“Those same people up there, they’re almost as bad as a leaker, because they leak,” Trump said. “Oh, they leak false information. That makes them a leaker, right?”

Trump administration expands investigations into media leaks

Trump’s remarks came as his administration pursued measures to identify and prosecute individuals who share sensitive government information with journalists. The administration has proposed directing federal agencies to require new and existing employees to sign nondisclosure agreements.

In a separate effort, federal investigators subjected about 50 members of the US military’s Joint Staff to polygraph tests while questioning them about whether they had shared classified information with journalists, The New York Times reported last month, citing officials briefed on the move.

In January, Trump also authorized a search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified materials.

A federal magistrate judge subsequently ruled that the administration could not examine data seized by FBI agents. The ruling was upheld by a district court judge after the administration appealed.