Trump accuses New York Times reporter of treason during Air Force One Iran exchange

President Donald Trump accused a New York Times reporter of “treasonous” coverage during a tense exchange aboard Air Force One on Friday, escalating his public criticism of media coverage of the U.S. conflict with Iran. The confrontation occurred as Trump returned from a summit in China, where he fielded questions from reporters, including David Sanger, the Times’ White House and national security correspondent.

Sanger asked Trump about the purpose of repeating bombing after weeks of U.S. military action, noting that Trump’s Operation Epic Fury had not produced political changes in Iran. Trump rejected that framing, saying he had achieved a “total military victory.” He argued that the campaign had eliminated or damaged major Iranian military capabilities and repeatedly said that reporters he criticized were misrepresenting the outcome. During the exchange, Trump also singled out the New York Times and CNN, at one point saying he considered it “treason” for them to write that Iran was doing well militarily.

The dispute reflects competing assessments of whether the operation achieved its stated goals. Sanger previously reported that Iran’s nuclear stockpile remained intact, with...