President Donald Trump took to Truth Social early Saturday not to address the public on the fate of a U.S. service member at the center of desperate search efforts in Iran, but to complain about The New York Times.
At the heart of the 79-year-old president’s post, as usual, was himself.
“The Failing New York Times, whose lack of credibility, and their constant Fake News attacks on your favorite President, ME, has caused its circulation to absolutely PLUMMET, referred to our severely weakened and extremely unreliable ‘partner,’ NATO, as the North American Treaty Organization,” he wrote.
“A very interesting mistake! The hiring and educational standards have gone way down at the NYT,” he added.
The newspaper’s communications team acknowledged the mistake that Trump had seized upon, saying the name of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had been “misstated.”
Trump’s post comes a day after Iran shot down an Air Force F-15E fighter jet over the country, marking a dangerous new turn in a war now into its fifth week.
Iran has since placed a bounty on the aircrew, and a dramatic search and rescue mission ensued, resulting in one crew member being rescued by American forces. The second remains missing, and both the White House and Pentagon have been silent on the status of rescue efforts.
Trump, asked Friday about the missing service member, told NBC News the situation wouldn’t affect negotiations to end the war, saying, “It’s war. We’re in war.”
Shortly after that comment, the president is said to have gathered in the West Wing with his national security team to discuss the downed jet and ongoing search efforts, though no details on that meeting have been disclosed.
The White House has been contacted for comment.
