Overview
- During a White House briefing on the Iran conflict, Trump cut off Times reporter Zolan Kanno-Youngs and called the paper “failing” after a question about possible war crimes.
- He said he was “not at all” concerned about the allegation and stated that his priority was to disarm Iran.
- The question cited a Truth Social post in which Trump threatened strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants while demanding the Strait of Hormuz be reopened.
- Legal experts have said deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure violate the Geneva Conventions and could amount to war crimes if carried out.
- The New York Times responded with a statement from spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander that called the remarks a pattern of attacking fair questions and defended the paper’s reporting.