President Donald Trump accused New York Times reporter David Sanger of treason, following Sanger's question about the war with Iran.
During a Friday press gaggle aboard Air Force One, Trump claimed to have achieved a "total military victory," alleging the U.S. destroyed Iran's navy, air force, radar systems, and leadership across multiple command levels.
When pressed on the war, however, Trump lashed out and called Sanger a "fake guy," accusing the New York Times and CNN of writing incorrectly about his military achievements. This latest outburst follows Trump's two-day trip to China to meet with President Xi Jinping.
"I actually think it's sort of treasonous what you write," Trump said.
Journalists and commentators responded with alarm, noting that presidential accusations of treason — a capital crime — against reporters for covering an ongoing war represent an unprecedented normalization of authoritarian rhetoric.
Critics emphasized the gravity of such language while observing media passivity toward the statement.
"We've become numb to this stuff, but a president accusing a journalist of treason -- a capital crime -- for reporting on an ongoing war is not normal, and we should never accept it as normal," wrote journalist Radley Balko.
"A sitting president accusing a journalism of treason -- to his face. This is not normal, nor should it ever be treated a such," agreed Tim Lambert, editor-in-chief of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
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