According to NBC News, Trump made the remarks during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, arguing that leaking information about the timing of military operations could have serious consequences.
Referring to a possible US military operation against Iran, Trump claimed he had to cancel a plan after someone disclosed details about the timing of American forces’ departure and arrival.
The report said his remarks appeared to refer to the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. However, the operation was not cancelled and was carried out.
Trump said the person responsible for the leak should have been jailed for life or shot. He alleged that information about the departure time of US forces from Missouri, reportedly 12:07am, had appeared in The New York Times and on CNN.
The president described those who leak classified information as among the worst people in the country and called for the toughest possible action against them.
Trump also criticised journalists covering the rally, comparing them to people who leak classified information. He accused reporters of spreading false information and suggested that this made them similar to government leakers.
The president has repeatedly criticised news organisations, at times describing the media as an enemy of the public.
Since returning to office, his administration has taken steps aimed at preventing unauthorised disclosures of government information. These have included a proposal for new and existing federal employees to sign confidentiality agreements to prevent the unauthorised sharing of official information.
Last month, The New York Times reported, citing officials, that around 50 members of the US military’s Joint Staff had undergone polygraph tests as part of efforts to determine whether they had provided classified information to journalists.
In January, Trump also authorised a search of the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of unlawfully retaining classified documents.
The following month, a federal magistrate judge barred the administration from reviewing data seized during the search. A district court judge later upheld that decision, and the administration did not pursue a further appeal.
In June, the Trump administration also sought to compel three Washington Post journalists and one Wall Street Journal journalist to testify before a federal grand jury. The subpoenas were withdrawn after the newspapers raised objections.
