Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, Oct 15: US President Donald Trump has said that people who leak sensitive military information to the media “should be shot”, describing them as the “scum of the earth” during a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Wednesday, October 14.
Trump made the remarks while criticising media reports about US military operations against Iran. He claimed that details about a planned strike had been leaked to news organisations, forcing him to postpone the operation.
“In my opinion, leakers should be shot. In the old days, we used to shoot leakers,” Trump told the gathering, adding that those responsible for disclosing sensitive information should face severe punishment.
According to reports, Trump was referring to Operation Midnight Hammer, the US military operation carried out in June 2025 against three Iranian nuclear facilities during the 12-day conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Trump alleged that the timing of the operation, including details about the departure and arrival of US military aircraft, had been disclosed to The New York Times and CNN. He claimed that the information could have compromised the mission and put American military personnel at risk.
Trump said the US had planned to deploy B-2 stealth bombers from Missouri for the operation. Recalling his conversation with General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he said he had discussed the potential impact of the reported leak before deciding to change the timing of the strike.
The president claimed that the operation was rescheduled by two days and eventually carried out using the original departure time. However, he did not identify the person allegedly responsible for the leak or provide independent evidence that the media disclosures had forced the military to alter its plans.
During the rally, Trump also criticised journalists covering the event, saying they were “almost as bad as a leaker”. His remarks marked a further escalation in his criticism of people who disclose confidential government information to the press.
Trump has repeatedly expressed anger over media reports based on leaked information. His administration has also taken steps to identify the sources of disclosures, including requiring some government and military personnel to undergo polygraph tests, according to media reports.
The comments came as Trump campaigned in Arizona ahead of the November 3 US midterm elections, seeking support for Republican candidates, including gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs.
Although the event was intended to rally support ahead of the elections, Trump devoted considerable attention to the war with Iran and his grievances against the media. He also claimed that prices in the US were coming down and said the conflict with Iran would end “very soon”.
Trump's remarks have drawn attention because of his explicit call for the shooting of people who leak military information. His statements were made in the context of his allegations about the Iran operation; he did not announce a specific new policy or legal measure during the rally.