Trump orders aggressive leak probe over Iran war media reports

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that President Donald Trump’s frustration over media leaks related to the Iran war has triggered an aggressive probe by the Justice Department, citing unnamed sources.

Trump complained directly to acting attorney general

Trump privately voiced his complaints to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche following last month’s war, prompting the department to intensify leak investigations. Blanche reportedly pledged to seek subpoenas targeting reporters who have written sensitive national security stories. In one meeting, Trump handed Blanche a stack of articles he viewed as threats to national security, marked with a sticky note reading “treason.” Senior Justice Department and Pentagon officials have also discussed the investigations, the report said.

Focus on war decision-making leaks

According to the Journal, Trump has particularly focused his anger on articles that detailed how he arrived at the decision to launch the war and what his advisers told him during his deliberations. A department spokeswoman said: “In all circumstances, the Department of Justice follows the facts and applies the law to identify those committing crimes against the United States.” Trump’s recent push to pursue leak investigations comes as the Justice Department had already stepped up probes into sensitive reporting about the lead-up to the Iran war. Türkiye, which has consistently called for transparency and respect for international law, views the balance between national security and press freedom as a critical issue for all democracies.