President Donald Trump engaged in a verbal exchange with CNN White House correspondent Alayna Treene during a flagpole installation event at the White House on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. During the interaction, Trump dismissed CNN as fake news and questioned the network’s viewership. This occurred when Treene asked about divisions among his supporters concerning potential U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict.
The incident took place on the South Lawn as Trump oversaw the installation of new flagpoles at the White House. When Treene mentioned the divide among his supporters over the U.S. response, Trump interrupted to inquire about her media affiliation. Upon learning she was from CNN, Trump labeled the network as fake news, stating “Fortunately nobody watches.”
As Treene continued her inquiry about his supporters’ concerns regarding U.S. involvement in another foreign conflict, Trump escalated the confrontation with personal remarks, asking, “Do you ever ask a positive question at CNN?” He claimed that his supporters were more enthusiastic about him now than during the election, citing his electoral victory statistics.
This exchange underscored Trump’s tendency to deflect challenging questions by attacking the credibility of news organizations, rather than addressing policy issues. This approach has characterized his media interactions, diverting attention from policy discussions and reinforcing his media bias narrative.
The confrontation occurred amid growing tensions within Trump’s political base over his administration’s hawkish stance toward Iran. Notable conservative figures, such as Tucker Carlson and Steve Bannon, have criticized Trump’s Iran policy, leading to a reported fracture among MAGA supporters. Trump dismissed the notion of any division among his supporters.
Recent polling data (before Iran’s nuclear facilities were bombed) suggests Trump’s claims about unwavering supporter loyalty may be overstated. Half (50%) of Americans polled view Iran as an enemy; 25% consider it unfriendly, and 5% regard it as an ally or friendly.
Only 16% of Americans polled believe the U.S. military should engage in the Israel-Iran conflict; 60% oppose such involvement, and 24% are uncertain.
Majorities of Democrats (65%), Independents (61%), and Republicans (53%) polled oppose U.S. military action in Iran. This data contradicts Trump’s assertion of unified support among his base for his foreign policy decisions.
Trump’s antagonism toward CNN is part of a broader pattern of confrontational interactions with mainstream media. Throughout his current term, Trump has clashed with CNN reporters, including previous encounters with Kaitlan Collins and Jim Acosta. In each case, Trump has questioned the network’s credibility and viewership while avoiding the substance of reporters’ questions.
The Trump administration carried out military action against Iranian nuclear facilities with American-made bunker-busting bombs to reach underground targets. Trump initially expressed uncertainty about proceeding with the strikes, telling reporters that he could take up to two weeks to reach a decision. This initial indecision added to the divisions among his supporters that Treene was asking about.
Brian Glenn, a correspondent for Real America’s Voice and partner of Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, attempted to reframe Treene’s question to be more favorable to Trump. Glenn suggested that while Trump’s base remains loyal, some supporters are concerned about prolonged military involvement. Trump responded by promising no long-term conflict while maintaining aggressive rhetoric toward Iran.
The flagpole ceremony was intended as a symbolic gesture, with Trump announcing earlier that “It is my Great Honor” to announce the installation of two flagpoles at the White House, which he funded personally as a gift to the American public. The event provided an opportunity for Trump to address reporters, though his responses focused more on attacking media outlets than discussing policy issues.
During the exchange, Trump also highlighted his electoral victory, claiming he won all seven swing states and thousands of districts compared to his opponent’s hundreds. He used these statistics to deflect from Treene’s questions about supporter divisions, implying that his electoral mandate justifies his policy decisions despite criticism from within his base.
The confrontation demonstrated Trump’s approach to press interactions as opportunities for political theater rather than substantive policy dialogue, especially when faced with questions challenging his narrative of unified supporter backing.