United States President Donald Trump suggested at a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, that individuals who leak information to the media should face severe consequences, including being shot. Trump made these remarks while urging supporters to vote in the upcoming midterm elections on November 3. He stated, "In my opinion, leakers should be shot," and referenced historical practices regarding leakers.
The comments appeared to relate to Operation Midnight Hammer, a military operation involving a surprise attack on Iran in June 2025 during a conflict between Israel and Iran. Following this operation, several media outlets reported on a preliminary Defense Intelligence Agency report that had not been publicly released, which indicated that Iran managed to relocate some enriched uranium and that the damage to its nuclear facilities was less extensive than previously claimed by Trump.
Trump accused the media, specifically mentioning The New York Times and CNN, of endangering military personnel by leaking sensitive information about the timing of military operations. He claimed that such leaks forced him to reschedule military actions.
The president has a history of opposing leaks and has previously called for harsh penalties for officials who disclose confidential information. After parts of the Defense Intelligence Agency report were made public, Trump attributed the leaks to Democratic lawmakers, stating, "The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran. They should be prosecuted!"
During his presidency, the White House implemented measures to identify leak sources, including requiring staff and military personnel to undergo polygraph tests. Journalists from various news organizations have received subpoenas related to their sources of internal information.
In 2025, the Department of Defense mandated that journalists sign agreements prohibiting the publication of unauthorized material, a move that faced resistance from the press corps and was later challenged in court. Trump's animosity towards leakers has been a consistent theme throughout his political career, dating back to his first term from 2017 to 2021. Former White House official Alyssa Farah Griffin noted that Trump had previously called for the execution of leakers after reports surfaced about his actions during protests in 2020. In his recent speech, Trump reiterated his stance, stating, "Leakers should be dealt with very, very strongly. To me, they are the scum of the earth."