WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed a question on potential violations of international law as “fake” during a tense White House press conference on the Iran conflict, underscoring his long-running feud with The New York Times and other such media, raising fresh concerns about press freedom and accountability.
The exchange unfolded when Zolan Kanno-Youngs asked whether threats to target Iranian infrastructure — including power plants and bridges — could amount to breaches of the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit deliberate attacks on civilian objects.
رپورٹر: شہری انفراسٹرکچر پر جان بوجھ کر حملے جنیوا کنونشنز اور بین الاقوامی قانون کی خلاف ورزی ہیں۔
ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ: تم کس ادارے سے ہو؟
رپورٹر: میں نیو یارک ٹائمز سے ہوں۔
ٹرمپ: فیل ہوتی ہوئی نیو یارک ٹائمز۔ اس کی سرکولیشن بہت کم ہو چکی ہے۔
رپورٹر: کیا آپ کو اس بات کی فکر ہے کہ… pic.twitter.com/SXAjkWd91q
— Harmeet Singh (@HarmeetSinghPk) April 7, 2026
Rather than addressing the substance of the question, Trump challenged the reporter’s affiliation before launching into a familiar critique of the newspaper, calling it “failing” and accusing it of lacking credibility. He repeatedly interrupted the journalist, ultimately declaring, “you’re fake.”
It may be added here that the question posed to Trump reflects a broadly accepted principle of international humanitarian law: civilian infrastructure is generally protected unless it constitutes a legitimate military objective. Legal experts have long debated how such rules apply to modern conflicts, particularly when infrastructure may serve dual civilian and military purposes.
Trump, on the other hand, appeared to interpret the question less as a legal inquiry and more as an attempt to frame his Iran policy in terms of “war crimes” — a characterisation he and his allies have consistently rejected. He has repeatedly warned that the United States would strike key Iranian assets if Tehran pursued nuclear weapons capability.
By branding the question “fake,” Trump did not dispute the legal premise directly. Instead, he shifted the focus to the credibility of the outlet and the intent behind the question — a rhetorical strategy he has frequently deployed when confronted with critical reporting.
رپورٹر: پاور پلانٹس اور پلوں پر حملے جنیوا کنونشن کی خلاف ورزی ہیں، کیا یہ جنگی جرم نہیں؟
ٹرمپ : مجھے امید ہے ایسا نہ کرنا پڑے… انہیں جوہری ہتھیار نہیں ملیں گے۔
رپورٹر: آپ نے میرے سوال کا جواب نہیں دیا۔
ٹرمپ: آپ فیک نیوز ہیں🤣 pic.twitter.com/Deqkn9hXZ0
— Mehwish Qamas Khan (@MehwishQamas) April 7, 2026
It is worth mentioning that the confrontation fits a pattern established over the past decade, in which Trump has labelled critical coverage by major outlets, particularly the New York Times, as “fake news.” Media analysts say such responses serve a dual purpose: discrediting scrutiny while reinforcing his political narrative of a hostile press.
Supporters view these moments as Trump pushing back against what they see as adversarial or biased questioning, especially on national security issues. Critics argue the approach sidelines substantive debate and discourages accountability during sensitive geopolitical developments.
