‘Blatant lie’: CNN forced to ‘retract’ its fake news that Democrats were not informed in advance of U.S. strikes on Iran
CNN was forced to make a major correction to its story originally claiming Democrats in Congress were not informed in advance of the U.S. military strikes Saturday against Iran’s nuclear sites.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the left-leaning network had to retract its report she called “Fake News,” saying Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was spoken to “before the strike,” and that U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries “didn’t pick up the phone.”
This is Fake News.
The White House made bipartisan courtesy calls to Congressional Leadership and spoke to @SenSchumer before the strike. @RepJeffries could not be reached until after, but he was briefed.
@CNN please retract. https://t.co/4VCgjkznKH
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 22, 2025
Appearing on Fox News Monday morning, Leavitt said congressional members of both parties were informed prior to the military action.
“First of all, we did make bipartisan calls. Thomas Massie and the Democrats – he should be a Democrat because he is more aligned with them than with the Republican Party – were given notice,” she began.
“The White House made calls to congressional leadership; they were bipartisan calls. In fact, Hakeem Jeffries couldn’t be reached. We tried him before the strike and he didn’t pick up the phone, but he was briefed after, as well as Chuck Schumer was briefed prior to the strike.
“So this notion that CNN ran with that the White House did not give a heads-up to Democrats is just completely false. In fact, both Sen. Schumer’s office and CNN had to retract that story last night because it was a blatant lie, and we showed them the time stamps from those phone calls.”
WH Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt SLAMS House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) for LYING and claiming they weren’t informed about the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities before the attack.
“First of all, we did make bipartisan… pic.twitter.com/eOxSLGfnkv
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 23, 2025
CNN posted a correction to its online story by Sarah Ferris and Morgan Rimmer, stating: “Correction: This story has been updated to make clear Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was called before the strike, not after as initially reported.”
The network noted: “People familiar with the matter initially told CNN that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries received notifications shortly before the public announcement – and after the attack itself.
“But after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt disputed that account, a source conceded that Schumer had been called around 6 p.m. – a little less than an hour before the strikes began – with little detail. He was told of imminent military action without naming the country in which the action was to take place, the source said.”
America is a much safer place today because of President Trump’s bold action to obliterate the rogue, radical Iranian regime’s nuclear capabilities.
Past Presidents wanted to take this action, but they didn’t have the guts to make the decision.
Peace through Strength is back… pic.twitter.com/t6xsmchVif
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) June 23, 2025
As WorldNetDaily reported, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, also fumed that President Trump didn’t “holla” at her to ask her permission to strike Iran.
JUST IN: Rep. Jasmine Crockett is fuming that President Trump didn’t “holla” at her to ask for her permission to strike Iran.
“I am a black woman in America who just happens to be educated enough to know what the law is.”
“If you Google war and authority and Constitution,… pic.twitter.com/vzof3yBuoJ
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 22, 2025
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
‘MIGA!’ Trump floats regime change in Iran while hammering one U.S. Republican as a ‘pathetic LOSER’
WATCH: Tom Homan reveals ‘biggest concern’ on Iranian sleeper cells inside U.S.
Did Trump violate Constitution with strike on Iran? Republicans in Congress at odds
WATCH: Jasmine Crockett fuming that Trump didn’t ‘holla’ at her to ask her permission to strike Iran
WATCH: Pentagon officials speak following U.S. strikes on Iran
U.S. attacks Iran: See photos from inside the Situation Room
‘Disastrous decision’: AOC calls for impeachment of Trump over attacks on Iran
WATCH Jennifer Griffin: Military ‘deception’ key factor in U.S. attacks on Iran
WATCH Benjamin Netanyahu: First comes strength, then comes peace