President Donald Trump on Monday slammed a media “leak” that he said endangered American service members after a second pilot went missing in Iran following the downing of an F‑15E fighter jet last week.
Speaking at the White House, Trump celebrated the “miraculous” recovery of the airman and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for revealing sensitive operational details.
The strike jet was hit in a remote area of southern Iran on Friday, forcing both crew members to eject.
One pilot was rescued within hours, but the weapons systems officer remained unaccounted for, The Post Millennial reported.
According to Trump, the missing pilot survived by climbing a 7,000-foot ridge and hiding in a crevice until U.S. forces reached him early Sunday.
The pilot’s survival was hailed as a remarkable act of bravery by American forces.
Trump accused an unnamed journalist of compromising national security by reporting that a pilot was still missing.
“We didn’t talk about the first one for an hour, and then somebody leaked something… they didn’t know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information!” he said, stressing that the disclosure alerted Iranian forces to the pilot’s precarious situation.
The president announced potential legal action against both the leaker and the reporter.
“We’re going to go to the media company that released it and we’re going to say, ‘National security — give it up or go to jail,’” Trump said, calling the responsible party “a sick person,” as noted by Politico.
Several outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Axios, and Fox News, covered the downed jet, but Trump did not specify which report he referred to.
Unlike state shield laws, which exist in more than 30 states and protect reporters from being compelled to reveal confidential sources, there is no federal shield law in the U.S., meaning journalists can be forced to disclose information in federal investigations or court proceedings.
Trump emphasized that the leak complicated the rescue operation.
Iranian authorities reportedly offered a significant reward for capturing the missing pilot, increasing the danger to U.S. aircraft and personnel involved in the search.
“When they did that, all of a sudden, the entire country of Iran knew that there was a pilot somewhere on their land fighting for his life,” he said.
The president described the mission to recover the second pilot as extraordinary.
The operation involved more than 150 aircraft and multiple personnel operating in hostile conditions. The wounded airman treated his injuries while evading capture until U.S. forces could extract him.
Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators have echoed Trump’s concerns, warning that leaks of operational details can empower adversaries and put American lives at risk.
Supporters say safeguarding such information is essential for mission success and the safety of service members.
Trump’s statements underscore a firm approach to information security amid ongoing tensions in Iran, now in their seventh week.
He also highlighted broader strategic threats, including potential attacks on the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated that the administration is investigating the leak and will hold responsible parties accountable.
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