Brief
Trump says leakers should be shot at Arizona rally
At a campaign event in Arizona, Trump warned that media leaks of military operations could cost lives and called for lethal punishment.
By Felo News Desk · Published
President Donald Trump told supporters at a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, that anyone who leaks government information to the news media should be shot, saying the practice was used "in the old days" when leaks revealed attack timings.
Trump linked his comment to Operation Midnight Hammer, the surprise U.S. strike on Iran in June 2025 during a 12‑day Israel‑Iran war. He claimed that media outlets, specifically The New York Times and CNN, had published details from a preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency report that disclosed the timing of the attack, forcing the administration to reschedule the bombing two days later. "Somebody leaked. Some sleaze‑bag, they ought to go to jail or be shot," he said, adding that leakers should spend the rest of their lives in prison.
The president also blamed Democratic lawmakers for the release of the report, writing on social media that "The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran" and urging prosecution.
Trump’s remarks echo his long‑standing adversarial stance toward the press. He has previously called for harsh penalties against officials who pass confidential information to journalists and has directed the White House to intensify efforts to identify leakers.
During the rally, Trump urged attendees to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, framing his call for stricter punishment as part of a broader campaign to protect national security.
Key facts
- Donald Trump suggested leakers should be shot at a rally in Bullhead City, Arizona. (aljazeera.com)
- He referenced Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 U.S. attack on Iran. (aljazeera.com)
- Trump accused The New York Times and CNN of leaking the timing of the attack. (aljazeera.com)
- He blamed Democratic lawmakers for releasing a Defense Intelligence Agency report. (aljazeera.com)
- Trump urged voters to turn out for the November 3 midterm elections. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Trump suggests those who leak government information should ‘be shot’”
