President Donald Trump sharply criticized CNN on Sunday over its coverage of ongoing negotiations with Iran, accusing the network of misrepresenting the contents of a potential agreement and arguing that the outlet’s credibility problems will persist regardless of future ownership changes.
The president directed his criticism at the network in a post on Truth Social, where he rejected claims that a proposed deal with Iran failed to adequately address nuclear issues.
“Fake News CNN said today, routinely, that my Iran Nuclear Deal doesn’t talk about Nuclear, when actually it states, very clearly, that Iran will not have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote. He added that the agreement contains extensive provisions related to nuclear matters and said much of the framework is devoted to those issues.
Trump continued his criticism by calling CNN a “Low Ratings disaster,” arguing that even a change in ownership would not improve the network’s performance.
The comments came shortly after CNN aired reports regarding the status of negotiations between the United States and Iran. During a Sunday broadcast, anchor Jessica Dean reported that Trump was seeking revisions to the text of a potential agreement, specifically pushing for stronger language regarding Iran’s commitments related to its nuclear program.
Earlier in the evening, CNN correspondent Julia Benbrook reported that sources involved in the process indicated a memorandum of understanding under consideration could extend negotiations for an additional 60 days on several major issues. Among the topics reportedly still being discussed are Iran’s nuclear program and the future of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
According to Benbrook, a White House official reiterated that Trump would only support an agreement that satisfies his key conditions, with the administration’s top priority remaining the prevention of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The disagreement highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding negotiations that have been the focus of intense diplomatic efforts in recent weeks. While both sides have continued discussions, major questions remain unresolved, and a final agreement has yet to emerge.
Just one week earlier, Trump struck a more optimistic tone, suggesting that negotiations had made substantial progress and that a breakthrough could be near.
In a May 23 social media post, the president said the United States and Iran had advanced significantly toward an agreement and indicated that only final details remained under discussion.
“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote at the time. He also stated that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened as part of the agreement, alongside other provisions.
Despite those optimistic remarks, the negotiations remain in limbo. Reports indicate Trump reviewed a potential deal framework late last week but ultimately concluded that the proposal did not yet meet his standards.
Throughout the process, the president has maintained that any agreement must guarantee that Iran abandons its pursuit of a nuclear weapon. That position has remained a central component of his negotiating stance as talks continue.
Speaking with his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, during an appearance on her Fox News program Saturday night, Trump signaled that while he prefers a negotiated solution, he remains prepared to consider alternative options if diplomacy fails.
“If negotiations fall apart,” Trump said, he would seek to “end it a different way.”
As discussions continue, the outcome remains uncertain, with diplomacy still being tested amid broader concerns about stability in the region and the consequences that could follow should negotiations ultimately break down.
