‘You’re with fake news’: Trump calls out CNN reporter for not disclosing her network

President Donald Trump interrupted a CNN reporter on Air Force One, mocked her White House pool claim, and dismissed her Iran question as fake news
PUBLISHED JAN 12, 2026
President Donald Trump challenged a CNN reporter on Air Force One over her network identity and dismissed her Iran questions as fake news (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump challenged a CNN reporter on Air Force One over her network identity and dismissed her Iran questions as fake news (Alex Wong/Getty Images)


PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: President Donald Trump did not hesitate to call out a “fake news” reporter during a recent exchange on Air Force One.

In a 34-second clip, he interrupted a CNN reporter asking about Iran military briefings, mocked her claim of representing the “White House TV pool” rather than CNN, and dismissed it as fake news. Trump has previously shut down CNN reporters’ questions in similar exchanges.

Trump slams CNN as 'fake news'

As Trump traveled back to the White House from Palm Beach, he held a Q&A session with reporters on Air Force One. During the interaction, a CNN reporter tried to clarify which network she represented. In a brief clip, the reporter began, “Briefed on… Are you meeting with senior officials?”

U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from the members of the press aboard Air Force One on January 11, 2026 en route back to the White House from Palm Beach, Florida. The President spent the weekend at his private club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump takes questions from the members of the press aboard Air Force One on January 11, 2026 en route back to the White House from Palm Beach, Florida (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Trump replied, “I’m gonna tell you the answer.” She continued, “Are you meeting with yourself?”

Trump responded, “Am I going to really… are you asking me to say what they will do? Where will we attack? When and at what angle will we attack from?”

He then asked, “Who are you with?” She said, “US White House pool,” while starting another question: “I’m wondering…” Trump interrupted, asking directly, “What network?” She answered, “I’m with CNN, sir.”

Trump slammed the network: “Why didn’t you just say CNN? Fake News. She says she’s with the White House pool—I say, what? You’re with CNN. You’re with FAKE NEWS.”

When she continued asking about Iran, Trump repeated, “Because CNN is Fake News.”

Trump’s past heated confrontations with CNN reporters



In October 2025, Trump singled out CNN’s Senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes during an “Antifa routable” in the State Dining Room on Wednesday, October 8.

Although the chatter in the room made her question hard to hear, Holmes appeared to ask about a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas when the president interrupted. “This is CNN speaking, by the way,” he told the crowd. “So, you know, this is one of the worst reporters that you'll ever see. I don't even want to take her question. It's a waste of time,” he said before moving on to a different reporter’s question.  



Earlier, in September 2025, Trump also took a jab at CNN while answering questions in the Oval Office. The exchange occurred on Thursday, September 25, during his joint appearance with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

As soon as he heard “Yunus Paksoy, a reporter for CNN’s Turkish affiliate, CNN Turk,” Trump quipped, “CNN fake news.” Paksoy asked about the Obama-era decision not to sell Patriot missile defense systems to Turkey and how Trump might reverse what he called “stupidity.”

Trump joked before answering, “CNN? Wow, because you sounded like a nice guy. CNN is fake news. But you sound like the real deal to me, so I’ll answer the question.” He ended the exchange by praising the reporter while reaffirming his stance: “I like this guy. He’s from CNN. Fake news. The worst fake news. But I like him. It’s CNN Turkey.”

Reporters from CNN, ABC, and NBC have grown accustomed to being targets at press conferences as Trump continues to attack media outlets that he claims have wronged him. 

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