In a dramatic escalation of his long-running feud with the press, President Donald Trump has branded The New York Times a direct threat to the United States' national security. The outburst occurred in a late-night post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday 23 December 2025.
A Late-Night Rant on Truth Social
Without citing specific evidence or pointing to a particular article, the President accused the widely-respected newspaper of publishing false and misleading reports. He framed its coverage as a dangerous act driven by political bias.
"The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation," Trump wrote. He continued, "Their Radical Left, Unhinged Behavior, writing FAKE Articles and Opinions in a never ending way, must be dealt with and stopped. THEY ARE A TRUE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!" The post was signed "PRESIDENT DJT."
A Pattern of Personal and Professional Attacks
This incident is the latest in a series of aggressive broadsides against The Times and other media outlets. Earlier in December, Trump labelled the paper's behaviour as "seditious, perhaps even treasonous" after an opinion piece by Frank Bruni questioned the 79-year-old president's health and vigour.
Trump vehemently defended his condition, referencing recent medical and cognitive exams he claims to have aced. "There will be a day when I run low on Energy, it happens to everyone... it certainly is not now," he asserted in a previous post.
The attacks have also become intensely personal. In November, he insulted veteran White House reporter Katie Rogers, calling her "a third rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out." He has also recently labelled multiple female journalists as "stupid" and "incapable," and told Bloomberg correspondent Catherine Lucey to be "quiet piggy," a remark that sparked widespread backlash.
Media Defence and the Stakes for Press Freedom
In response to these consistent attacks, The New York Times issued a firm statement defending its journalists and its reporting standards. The publication stated that its work is "accurate and built on first hand reporting of the facts."
The paper added, "Name-calling and personal insults don’t change that, nor will our journalists hesitate to cover this administration in the face of intimidation tactics like this." This standoff highlights the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and major media institutions, raising profound questions about the freedom of the press and the nature of political discourse in the United States.
