White Home press secretary Leavitt rejects CNN Iran report as faux information

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White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday forcefully rejected a CNN report that mentioned President Donald Trump’s nationwide safety staff was unprepared for the chance that Iran would transfer to shut the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes.

"This story is 100% FAKE NEWS," Leavitt wrote on X , accusing CNN of counting on nameless sources and defending the administration’s planning for such a state of affairs.

Leavitt mentioned the Pentagon had deliberate for a doable Iranian closure of the strait for many years and mentioned the risk had been a part of the administration’s planning earlier than Operation Epic Fury started.

"The concept chairman Cain and Secretary Hegseth weren’t ready for this risk is PREPOSTEROUS," she continued. "The President was totally briefed on it, and a purpose of the Operation itself, to annihilate the terrorist Iranian regime’s navy, missiles, drone manufacturing infrastructure, and different risk capabilities is kind of actually meant to deprive them of their potential to shut the Strait."

White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions throughout a information briefing within the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White Home on March 10, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs)

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The Strait of Hormuz has change into a focus within the battle as a result of roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments move by way of the waterway.

CNN reported Thursday that Trump’s nationwide safety staff "failed to completely account for the potential penalties of what some officers have described as a worst-case state of affairs now dealing with the administration."

The report cited nameless sources "acquainted with the matter."

A navy vessel is seen crusing within the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway by way of which a lot of the world's oil and fuel passes on March 1, 2026. (Sahar AL ATTAR / AFP by way of Getty Photographs)

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Leavitt’s criticism was echoed by Republican lawmakers and administration officers who known as the CNN report false.

"As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, let me clarify: whoever leaked this lied," Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote on X. "CNN ought to do some fact-checking."

Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth additionally blasted the report throughout remarks on the Pentagon on Friday , calling it "extra faux information from CNN" and "patently ridiculous."

Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth speaks through the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Convention on the U.S. Southern Command Headquarters on March 5, 2026, in Doral, Florida. The convention is being held to deal with narcoterrorism with regional protection and safety leaders from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. (Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs)

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"For many years, Iran has threatened transport within the Strait of Hormuz. That is at all times what they do, maintain the strait hostage," he added . "CNN doesn’t suppose we considered that."

CNN issued a clarification to the story on Friday, which learn, "This story has been up to date to replicate further developments and make clear that high Trump administration officers briefed lawmakers on long-standing navy plans to deal with a serious disruption to the Strait, in line with one official, however that a number of sources acquainted with the session mentioned there was no indication there have been any near-term options."

"We stand by our reporting," CNN advised Fox Information Digital when reached for touch upon Friday.

CNN chairman and CEO Mark Thompson mentioned on X they "stand by our journalism."

The White Home has repeatedly clashed with main information shops this week over protection of the Iran battle.

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Leavitt known as for ABC Information to retract a story on Thursday that claimed that the FBI has formally warned Iran could attempt to assault California with drones.

She known as the report "false data to deliberately alarm the American individuals," including that the story was based mostly off "one e-mail that was despatched to native legislation enforcement in California a couple of single, unverified tip."

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ABC Information has since updated its story with an editor's observe declaring, "The FBI has posted a fuller model of its alert to California authorities, which incorporates that the data was unverified. The most recent model of this story has been up to date with the complete assertion."