U.S. President Donald Trump harshly denounced a journalist who raised questions about his health and even signaled a lawsuit of astronomical scale. The same day, U.S. federal prosecutors issued a raft of subpoenas to reporters at the same outlet, demanding they reveal sources over a story pointing out security vulnerabilities tied to the presidential aircraft. Critics say the administration is mobilizing state power and the judicial system on all fronts to muzzle the press and rein in critical coverage.
According to reports compiled from major outlets including Bloomberg and the AP on the 12th, Trump on the 11th sharply criticized New York Times (NYT) reporter Maggie Haberman on his social media. Haberman recently appeared on a broadcast and, noting that Trump had mistakenly referred to Iran as Japan, suggested the possibility of cognitive decline.
That day, Trump used insulting language likening the reporter to a maggot and a witch, saying, "When a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against the New York Times goes to court, they will pay the price." He countered that he "completed a perfect physical at the National Military Medical Center" and "also received a perfect score on a cognitive test."
At the same time, on the 10th the U.S. Department of Justice sent subpoenas to five NYT reporters who flagged security issues with a new presidential aircraft gifted by Qatar. Earlier, the NYT reported that when Trump returned from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in Türkiye, he flew on the older presidential jet, following Secret Service advice that the new plane lacked advanced security features such as a missile defense system. After the report, federal prosecutors pressured the outlet to reveal sources, vowing to track down insiders who leaked information tied to national security.
A U.S. Department of Justice Spokesperson said in an email statement that "we value and appreciate the important role the press plays in this country," but added, "we will root out people within the executive branch who think it is acceptable to leak classified information that affects national security."
By contrast, David McCraw, an attorney for the New York Times, said in an official statement about the president's remarks and the Justice Department subpoenas, "Every American conscience that believes in the Constitution and the freedom of the press it protects should be shocked by the current spectacle of federal law enforcement agents showing up at the front doors of news reporters' homes."