Trump Administration Denounces CNN for Airing Messages from Iranian Leaders

The White House criticized CNN for broadcasting portions of the new Iranian supreme leader's first public statement since taking office.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:22am by Ben Kaplan

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The Trump administration has denounced CNN for airing a portion of the new Iranian supreme leader's first public statement since he got the job. The White House said CNN was 'regurgitating quotes and unverified information from Iranian terrorists' and accused the network of becoming the 'murderous Iranian Regime's version of Pravda.' CNN defended its decision, stating that the remarks were a 'critical component in helping audiences understand where this conflict is heading' and were aired for their 'obvious news value.'

Why it matters

This incident highlights the delicate balance journalists must strike when reporting on adversaries of the United States during wartime. While it is important to inform the public about the perspectives of foreign leaders, there are concerns about being used as a propaganda tool by hostile regimes. The criticism from the Trump administration also raises questions about the future editorial independence of CNN as its parent company undergoes a major acquisition.

The details

The White House denounced CNN for airing four minutes of the new Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei's first public statement since succeeding his father, who was killed in an Israeli air strike. The administration accused CNN of 'regurgitating quotes and unverified information from Iranian terrorists' and said the network had become the 'murderous Iranian Regime's version of Pravda.' CNN defended its decision, stating that the remarks were a 'critical component in helping audiences understand where this conflict is heading' and were aired for their 'obvious news value.' Other news outlets, including The Associated Press, also reported on Khamenei's statement, which included vows to keep up attacks on other Arab countries and plans to choke off the world's oil supply.

  • Khamenei's first public statement since succeeding his father, who was killed in an Israeli air strike

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has long been a critic of CNN.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei

The new supreme leader of Iran, who succeeded his father after he was killed in an Israeli air strike.

Steven Cheung

The White House communications director who criticized CNN for interviewing a former Iranian nuclear negotiator.

Erin Burnett

A CNN anchor who interviewed the former Iranian nuclear negotiator.

Seyed Hossein Mousavian

A former Iranian nuclear negotiator who was interviewed by CNN's Erin Burnett.

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What they’re saying

“Fake news CNN just aired four straight minutes of uninterrupted Iranian state TV, run by the same psychotic and murderous regime that prided itself on brutally slaughtering Americans for 47 years.”

— White House

“Ever notice how CNN just regurgitates quotes and unverified information from Iranian terrorists? Total disgrace. They have become the murderous Iranian Regime's version of Pravda.”

— Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director

“The world is watching with anticipation which direction this war will take. Purported remarks from Iran's new supreme leader are a critical component in helping audiences understand where this conflict is heading and were aired for their obvious news value.”

— CNN

What’s next

The Trump administration's criticism of CNN's coverage raises questions about the network's future editorial independence as its parent company undergoes a major acquisition.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the delicate balance journalists must strike when reporting on adversaries of the United States during wartime, as they must inform the public while avoiding being used as a propaganda tool by hostile regimes.