Trump Claims Timing of Attack on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Was Leaked

Trump's apparent reference seems to be to the 'Operation Midnight Hammer' strike on Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025, though he offered no explanation.

Trump expressed his anger towards an anonymous source who disclosed information about the time of the US attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Trump says those in the administration who leak information to the media "should be shot." During the conversation about the cancellation of a military attack in Iran that took place after its plans were leaked to the media, Donald Trump claimed that those in the government who leak sensitive defense information to the media "should be shot".

According to US Today, Trump claimed at a campaign rally (related to mid-term elections) in Bullhead City, Arizona: "In my opinion, those who leak information should be shot. "In the past, we would shoot those who leaked information."

Trump said that Iran's military was "waiting" for American forces before carrying out planned US operations.

He claimed that the "New York Times" newspaper and the "CNN" network had reported the time of the arrival and departure of the American forces by publishing the leaked information. Trump added that he has postponed the attack to the next two days.

Trump said: "Someone leaked the information; A mean and dirty person. They should go to jail and be shot."

Trump appeared to be referring to an "Operation Midnight Hammer" attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025, although he did not elaborate.

Trump, who has long been at odds with the media, threatened to sue the New York Times and CNN; The threat was prompted by reports of a preliminary intelligence document contradicting his claims that Iran's uranium enrichment facilities had been "completely and utterly destroyed" during US strikes.

Trump claimed: "When they leak the timing of an attack on a country — when the reason for the attack is really defensive, because you don't want them to get a weapon that can kill millions of people in one hit, well, whistleblowers have to be dealt with very strongly."

"In my opinion, they are the meanest people on earth," he added. "Those who leak information are the meanest people on earth."

Minutes later in his speech, Trump changed the subject from "whistleblowers" (those who leak information) to "reporters" and said: "They are almost as bad as a whistleblower because they leak information. "They spread false information that makes them a whistleblower, often without citing the source."

In August, Pentagon chief Pete Hegst announced that the War Department and the Justice Department had formed a joint task force to identify and prosecute individuals who leak sensitive information to the media.

"The leaked information puts people's lives at risk," Hegst said at the time. These new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force."

Last week, Trump agreed to the execution of Nidal Malik Hassan, a former army major, by firing squad. The person who shot and killed 13 people during a 2009 attack on Fort Hood.

Hogst had said the execution would be broadcast live, but Trump later said a final decision had not yet been made on whether to make it public.