Leavitt SLAMS CNN’s ‘Fake News’ About Leaked Iran Strike Intel: ‘No Coincidence
In a fiery interview on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt unleashed a sharp rebuke of CNN and elements of the U.S. intelligence community, calling out what she described as a coordinated attempt to undermine President Donald Trump’s historic military operation in Iran by circulating a “low confidence” and “unverified” intelligence leak.
Appearing with host John Roberts, Leavitt pushed back forcefully on claims from a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report that questioned the effectiveness of the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear sites. The report, described as “preliminary” and “expressing no confidence” in its findings, was widely cited in media outlets, including a prominent piece from CNN that cast doubt on whether Iran’s nuclear program had truly been crippled.
Leavitt minced no words.
“That CNN story was nothing more than a recycled smear campaign,” she said. “And it’s no coincidence it was written by the exact same CNN reporter who previously misled the American public by falsely labeling the Hunter Biden laptop story as Russian disinformation.”
The Press Secretary went on to celebrate what she described as a decisive victory for the Trump administration and the United States military, which she said successfully obliterated Iran’s nuclear capability in a precision operation conducted last Saturday night.
“Thanks to the decisive leadership of President Trump and the excellence of our armed forces, an imminent threat to the United States, Israel, and the world has been eliminated,” she added. “For over four decades, presidents have said Iran cannot get a nuclear weapon. President Trump is the only one who made that a reality.”
Leavitt also touted the President’s ability to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran within 48 hours of the strikes, ending a 12-day war that had destabilized the region. “No other president in history could have achieved this,” she said.
Secretary Hegseth, Albright Back White House Account
Joining the chorus of condemnation was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who during a press conference in The Hague lambasted the leakers and accused the media of distorting facts to serve political goals.
“We’ve seen this before,” Hegseth said. “These leaks are agenda-driven. They don’t care what the truth is. They only want to hurt President Trump.”
Meanwhile, nuclear weapons expert and former IAEA inspector David Albright added technical credibility to the administration’s account, suggesting that the airstrikes targeted ventilation shafts, making the underground centrifuge halls far more vulnerable. Albright concluded that the sites were likely completely destroyed, aligning with Israeli assessments.
“Everything nuclear down there is gone,” said President Trump earlier in the week. “The site is obliterated.”
Calls for Accountability and Investigation
Leavitt confirmed that the Department of Justice and FBI are currently investigating the source of the leak, which she described as “treasonous”.
“This was top-secret intelligence that only a handful of individuals had access to,” she said. “This leak is not only dangerous — it’s criminal. It should absolutely be prosecuted.”
Real estate developer and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, also involved in post-strike diplomacy, called the leak “outrageous” and “preposterous,” emphasizing that there was no doubt the nuclear program had been neutralized.
“For people with common sense, it doesn’t take an analyst to know that when you drop 14 30,000-pound bombs on a facility, you get complete destruction,” Leavitt emphasized.
Questions Remain on Enriched Uranium
One lingering issue, however, is the fate of approximately 900 pounds of 60% enriched uranium that Iran was reportedly stockpiling — enough for multiple nuclear bombs.
When asked by Roberts whether the U.S. had knowledge of the material’s location, Leavitt responded:
“We had no indication that it was moved prior to the strikes. Based on all our intelligence, that material is now buried under miles of rubble.”
Still, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi has expressed skepticism, stating more evidence is needed to determine the material’s fate. However, Albright maintained that no signs indicate the uranium was removed.
The Media’s Role Under Fire
Leavitt closed with a scathing critique of the press:
“The American people are smarter than this. They’ve seen this movie before. A fake news narrative pushed by biased media and corrupt insiders. But this time, they failed — because the truth is clear: President Trump made the world safer.”
As investigations into the leak continue, the administration appears determined to control the narrative — one that pits Trump’s bold military strike and diplomatic success against a skeptical media and a fractured intelligence community.
