President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on The New York Times, accusing it of publishing 'fake news' about Iran, after the newspaper's chief White House correspondent questioned his mental stability.
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump wrote: 'For those people that still read The Failing New York Times and, despite the fact that Iran has been totally OBLITERATED, Militarily, and otherwise, you would think that Iran is actually winning or, at the very least, doing quite well.' He added: 'But that’s not true, and The New York Times knows that it’s FAKE NEWS!'
The president's outburst came after veteran reporter Peter Baker wrote an article expressing concerns about Trump's 'erratic behavior and extreme comments', citing former allies and officials who described him as 'deranged' and 'unstable'. Baker noted that 'a series of disjointed, hard-to-follow and sometimes-profane statements... have left many with the impression of a deranged autocrat mad with power.'
Trump did not directly address Baker's piece but instead criticised the paper's coverage of the conflict with Iran. He has previously called the Times 'seditious, perhaps even treasonous' for an op-ed questioning his health.
The article marks a shift for the Times, which has been accused of 'sane-washing' Trump's behaviour. It follows recent reports that Trump's official engagements have fallen by nearly 40 per cent compared to his first term, which he denied.
