Trump Threatens Media Over Iran Rescue Leak Source

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated on Monday at the White House that he would require journalists who reported on the U.S. military’s pilot rescue operation in Iran to disclose their sources, warning they could face imprisonment if they refuse.

Trump made the remarks during a press briefing at the White House regarding the Iran pilot rescue incident. He emphasized that the reporting involved sensitive military operation secrets, and the leak not only endangered U.S. personnel still operating inside Iran but also significantly increased the difficulty of the entire rescue mission. He directly asserted that the government would pressure media organizations responsible for releasing the information to reveal internal source identities.

"We will go to the media company that released this story and tell them: This is a national security issue—give us the source, or you go to jail," he said.

This hardline stance marks the latest escalation in Trump’s long-standing tense relationship with the media. In the past, he has repeatedly criticized mainstream media as “fake news,” but this time he has made a rare direct threat using legal measures against reporters, with a tone markedly stronger than before. Although Trump denies suppressing press freedom, many media professionals believe this move could trigger a chilling effect on journalistic rights.

The incident began when an American F-15 fighter jet crashed while conducting a mission over Iran last week. Two crew members ejected and landed in Iranian territory, prompting a large-scale U.S. military rescue operation that ultimately succeeded in rescuing both individuals. However, prior to the second crew member being rescued, media outlets had already disclosed that the first had been saved—and that another person remained trapped—leading to a breach of intelligence.

Trump pointed out that this leak gave Iran crucial information, making the rescue operation "much more difficult." He said, "We did not discuss the first individual’s situation publicly, yet someone leaked the information. I hope we can find that leaker."

He further explained that Iran had previously not known about the second pilot’s presence. But after the information was exposed, the situation changed dramatically. "Suddenly, they knew there was still someone there. They saw a large number of aircraft entering the airspace, and the entire operation became far more complicated," he said.

Even more concerning to U.S. officials was Trump’s revelation that Iran subsequently announced a reward offering substantial bounties to anyone who helped capture the remaining pilot. "Iran issued a major announcement offering very high rewards to anyone who captures the pilot. So, in addition to facing a hostile, well-trained enemy force, we now have millions of people trying to claim the bounty," he said.

Thus, Trump stressed the necessity of identifying the leaker, calling him a "disturbed person." "We must find that leaker because it’s a disturbed person; he may not realize how serious this is… They’ve put the entire mission at great risk," Trump said. He added that the U.S. was working very hard to trace the source and believed they would eventually succeed.

However, Trump did not specify which media outlet was targeted. NBC News noted that if the government attempts to imprison journalists for refusing to reveal their sources, it would almost certainly face immediate legal challenges and potentially raise constitutional-level disputes.

During the same press conference, Trump also detailed the scale and risks of the rescue operation alongside Director of Central Intelligence John Ratcliffe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine. Trump said the U.S. mobilized up to 155 aircraft—including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 aerial refuelers, and 13 rescue planes—during the operation, encountering "extremely intense enemy fire," including helicopters being hit.

He said the second crew member suffered severe injuries while stranded in Iran for nearly 48 hours, located in an area "filled with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces." The pilot, bleeding heavily, climbed steep cliffs and attempted to send a location signal before being successfully rescued.

Trump emphasized: "We will not leave any American behind." He described the mission as a "very historic rescue operation."

At the same time, he once again issued a strong warning to Iran, claiming U.S. military power "far surpasses anything globally," even stating, "the entire country could be destroyed overnight—and that night might be tomorrow."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1861760514426185/

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