‘They want us to lose the war’: Trump erupts over reports on 'damaged' US military assets

President Donald Trump erupted at multiple media outlets Saturday over their reporting on an Iranian strike on U.S. military assets in Saudi Arabia, insisting that the coverage was not only false, but was causing great “damage” to his administration’s war effort.

On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that five Air Force refueling planes in Saudi Arabia were struck by Iranian missiles, leaving them “damaged but not fully destroyed." The New York Times and other outlets had also reported as such.

Trump fiercely contested the reporting, arguing that not only were claims of the planes being “damaged” exaggerated, but that the media outlets in question were actively pushing for the United States to “lose the war.”

“Yet again, an intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media about the five tanker planes that were supposedly struck down at an Airport in Saudi Arabia, and of no further use,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

“In actuality, the Base was hit a few days ago, but the planes were not ‘struck’ or ‘destroyed.’ Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service. One had slightly more damage, but will be in the air shortly. None were destroyed, or close to that, as the Fake News said in headlines.”

Several U.S. military assets have been damaged or destroyed amid the Trump administration’s war against Iran. In a separate incident, an Air Force refueling plane crashed last week on Thursday, killing all six of its crewmembers.

“The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other Lowlife ‘Papers’ and Media actually want us to lose the War,” Trump continued.

“Their terrible reporting is the exact opposite of the actual facts! They are truly sick and demented people that have no idea the damage they cause the United States of America. Fortunately, as proven by our Great and Conclusive Election Win in 2024, the People of our Country understand what is happening far better than the Fake News Media!”