U.S. attacks Iran-affiliated targets in Syria, following drone strike that killed 1 American contractor, injured 5 U.S. troops.
(CNSNews.com) – During a press conference on Monday, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany criticized the New York Times for its “absolutely irresponsible decision to falsely report that he [President Trump] was briefed on something that he, in fact, was not briefed on.”
On June 26, 2020, the New York Times reported that Russia secretly gave bounties to “Taliban-linked militants” to target and kill United States soldiers.
Quoting anonymous officials, The Times said the president had been briefed on what Russia was doing, but had made no moves to stop it.
“The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House’s National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March,” The Times reported, adding that “the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said.”
During the press conference, McEnany was asked, “I know you said that President Trump was never briefed on these reports about the Russian bounties and whatnot, but can you say he was briefed today?”
McEnany responded, “Look, I’ll say this—that the U.S. receives thousands of reports a day on intelligence and they’re subject to strict scrutiny. While the White House does not routinely comment on alleged intelligence or internal deliberations, the CIA director, NSA and chief-of-staff can all confirm that neither the president nor vice president were briefed on the alleged Russian bounty intelligence….”
McEnany went on to say, “There is no consensus in the intelligence community on these allegations and, in fact, there are dissenting opinions from some of the intelligence community with regards to the veracity of what’s being reported and the veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated.”
In her ending remarks, McEnany called out the New York Times for reporting that the president had been briefed when he had not been.
“Again, I would just point you back to the absolutely irresponsible decision of the New York Times to falsely report that he was briefed on something that he, in fact, was not briefed on,” McEnany said, “and I really think that it’s time for the New York Times to step back and ask themselves why they’ve been wrong, so wrong, so often.”
McEnany then gave examples of the The Times falsely reporting on the Russian collusion hoax in the years following the president’s election in 2016.
“It is inexcusable,” McEnany said, “the failed Russia reporting of the New York Times, and I think it’s time that the New York Times and also the Washington Post hand back their Pulitzers.”