CNN’s Jake Tapper this weekend issued a fierce riposte to Trump White House critics of his network’s reporting — critical or otherwise — on the war with Iran.
The “State Of The Union” anchor noted how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had recently “bristled” at coverage of U.S. troops killed in the conflict and suggested they were only being reported on in a bid to make President Donald Trump “look bad.” Seven U.S. servicemembers have now died.
“This is not even remotely why we cover service members who are killed,” said Tapper, who noted such coverage has happened for decades, is not about making any president look bad, and “should be front page news.”
“Let’s be clear, it is the news media’s responsibility to cover this war, not to cheerlead for it,” he continued. “It is our responsibility to ask questions of government officials especially when the lives of American service members are on the line, especially when civilians abroad […] are being killed.”
Tapper recalled how “not enough reporters” challenged George W. Bush’s administration as it marched toward the invasion of Iraq in 2003, arguing the Trump White House is now trying to use the “same tired playbook.”
“Guess what? We’re not gonna stop. Doesn’t matter how many times the propaganda campaign that accompanies any war is deployed against us. So, get used to it.”
