Trump Orders Investigation Into CNN Over Iranian Ceasefire Reporting

President Donald J. Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on April 7, 2026, stating he would suspend bombing and attacks subject to Iranian agreement. The deal included sanctions relief and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian control. Following this, Trump launched a formal investigation into CNN, accusing the network of publishing a "FRAUD" statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council that claimed a "crushing defeat" for the United States.

Trump alleged that CNN's reporting, which cited a 10-point Iranian plan, originated from a fake news site in Nigeria. He demanded the network withdraw the report and apologize, suggesting authorities were investigating whether the publication constituted a crime. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr supported the president, describing the reporting as a "hoax headline" during a sensitive national security period.

CNN and The New York Times defended their coverage, asserting the documents were obtained from official Iranian spokespeople and state media agencies, including the IRGC-run Tasnim News Agency. CNN correspondent Matthew Chance stated the Iranian foreign ministry provided the same document, confirming its authenticity.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that while Iran had proposed a 10-point "wish list" including the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Middle East, the administration had discarded it as "fundamentally unserious." Trump maintained that the U.S. was instead negotiating a separate set of meaningful points behind closed doors to facilitate ongoing talks in Pakistan.