President Donald Trump personally pressed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to aggressively investigate national security leaks related to the recent U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran, including pushing for subpoenas targeting journalists’ records, according to multiple administration officials.
Trump delivered his demand during a White House meeting, handing Blanche a stack of printed news articles he viewed as damaging, topped with a sticky note marked “Treason” in Sharpie. The move has sparked internal Justice Department discussions and led to grand jury subpoenas, including to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the probes.
The president’s frustration stems from coverage of sensitive military planning and operations in the Iran conflict last month. Officials said Trump flagged stories he believed endangered national security, risked soldiers’ lives, and compromised U.S. strategy. Some reporting highlighted Pentagon warnings about risks of a major operation against Iran, published shortly before the offensive began.
Acting Attorney General Blanche has defended the effort, stating that prosecuting leakers who share classified information “risking our national security and the lives of our soldiers” is a top priority for the administration.
Press freedom advocates expressed alarm, warning that the actions could intimidate journalists covering defense and national security matters and set a dangerous precedent for press-government relations.
Critics view the “treason” label as inflammatory rhetoric that escalates longstanding tensions between Trump and the media.
The development comes amid broader Trump administration scrutiny of leaks from the Pentagon and other agencies following the Iran operations. The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the scope of the investigations but confirmed it follows facts and applies the law to protect classified information.