White House calls CNN 'fake news' for report claiming Democratic leadership wasn't briefed on Iran strike
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Sen. Schumer and Rep. Jeffries were contacted before Operation: Midnight Hammer
By Lindsay Kornick Fox News
Published June 22, 2025 8:30pm EDT
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt demanded CNN retract a story on Sunday that claimed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries were not briefed on President Donald Trump’s strike on Iran.
Trump launched "Operation: Midnight Hammer" on Saturday and struck three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities in a surprise attack. The White House announced the success of the attack later that night.
CNN reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, both Republicans, were briefed on the strikes ahead of time, with Schumer and Jeffries, both Democrats, receiving notifications only before the public announcement and well after the attack.
Leavitt called the report "fake news" on X.
"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," Leavitt wrote.
https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1936900039752012235more
https://www.foxnews.com/media/white-house-calls-cnn-fake-news-report-claiming-democratic-leadership-wasnt-briefed-iran-strike
