Donald Trump has publicly called for the dismissal of Natasha Bertrand, a journalist at CNN, in a harsh critique aimed at the media. In a post on his social media platform, Trump declared, “Natasha Bertrand should be FIRED from CNN! I watched her for three days doing Fake News.” He accused her of producing biased reporting and expressed that she deserved immediate reprimand and dismissal.
Trump’s ire seemed to focus on a past report by Bertrand, which dealt with Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, and was titled “Laptop from Hell”. He further expressed that CNN’s reporting on military actions against Iran was misleading, stating that the strikes had not significantly hindered Iran’s nuclear program as claimed.
In his commentary, Trump insisted that CNN was degrading under the weight of what he perceives as subpar journalism, stating, “It’s people like her who destroyed the reputation of a once great Network.” He claimed her reporting was excessively negative and suggested she lacked the necessary skills to be an effective correspondent.
In response, CNN defended Bertrand, affirming their commitment to the integrity of her journalism. A spokesperson remarked, “We stand 100 per cent behind Natasha Bertrand’s journalism,” and added that CNN reported the intelligence assessment on the Iran strikes accurately and in a manner that serves the public interest. They highlighted that Trump himself had shown skepticism about such assessments.
This incident is part of a broader trend, with Trump frequently labelling major news outlets, including CNN and the New York Times, as purveyors of “fake news.” He recently denounced those who have covered military affairs unfavourably, referring to them as “bad and sick people” and accusing them of undermining the nation’s achievements.
Trump’s criticisms reflect an ongoing campaign against the press that has characterised his political rhetoric since his first term in office, illustrating a persistent hostility towards media narratives that contradict his viewpoints.