
President Donald Trump lashed out at several media outlets on Saturday over their reporting on an Iranian attack on US military assets in Saudi Arabia, insisting that the coverage was not only false but was causing major "damage" to his administration's war effort.
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that five Air Force planes refueling in Saudi Arabia were hit by Iranian missiles, leaving them "damaged but not completely destroyed."
The New York Times and other media outlets had also reported as such.
Trump strongly objected to the reporting, arguing that not only were the claims of "damage" to the planes exaggerated, but that the media outlets in question were actively pushing for the United States to "lose the war."
"Another intentionally misleading headline from the fake news media regarding the five tanker planes that supposedly crashed at an airport in Saudi Arabia and had no further use," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“In fact, the base was hit a few days ago, but the planes were not ‘hit’ or ‘destroyed.’ Four of the five suffered virtually no damage and are now back in service. One suffered a little more damage, but will be airborne soon. None were destroyed, or anywhere near that amount, as the fake news headlines claimed.”
Several US military assets have been damaged or destroyed during the Trump administration's war against Iran.
In a separate incident, an Air Force refueling plane crashed last week on Thursday, killing all six members of its crew.
"The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other newspapers and media outlets really want us to lose the war," Trump continued.
"Their appalling reporting is the complete opposite of the real facts! They are truly sick and deranged people who have no idea of the damage they are causing to the United States of America. Fortunately, as evidenced by our Great and Final Election Victory in 2024, the People of our Country understand what is happening much better than the Fake News Media!"