June 25, 2025 — Washington, D.C.
US President Donald Trump has fiercely rejected recent reports claiming that U.S. airstrikes failed to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capabilities, branding the coverage as “fake news” and asserting that the targeted facilities were “completely destroyed.”
The controversy follows a CNN report based on a classified Pentagon assessment that suggested the recent military operation—reportedly named “Operation Midnight Hammer”—only caused limited disruption to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. According to the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) analysis, the strikes did not fully eliminate Iran’s centrifuges or enriched uranium reserves. The report noted that while some areas were damaged or sealed off, many of the core assets remained intact.
Reacting strongly on Truth Social, Trump dismissed the report, writing in all caps: “Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed! Both The Times and CNN are getting slammed by the public!”.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt backed Trump’s claim, calling the intelligence analysis “flat-out wrong” and accused the media of attempting to discredit the former president’s leadership and military record. “Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000-pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration,” she said during a press briefing.
The operation, which took place earlier this month, was aimed at neutralizing Iran’s key nuclear development sites amid rising tensions in the region. While official details remain classified, multiple anonymous sources have confirmed that a strategic number of heavy ordnance bombs were deployed.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy for Strategic Security, called the intelligence leak “treasonous” and urged a federal investigation. “Those responsible should be held accountable,” he said in an interview with Fox News. “The site was obliterated, and the American people deserve to know the truth without spin.”
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1937668084925435972
The White House has not released satellite imagery or official after-action reports, citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, congressional leaders have called for closed-door briefings to understand the full impact of the strikes.
The divide between the administration’s narrative and the intelligence community’s findings has reignited debate over transparency, military oversight, and media credibility—setting the stage for further political conflict as election season approaches.
