Trump Advocates for 'Shooting' Leakers, Citing National Security Concerns

During a campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, on October 14, 2026, United States President Donald Trump suggested that individuals who leak government information to the news media should face the death penalty. "In my opinion, leakers should be shot," Trump declared to his supporters, urging them to vote in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections. He evoked historical practices, stating, "In the old days, we used to shoot leakers, you know, when they leak what time you’re going to attack a country."

This statement appeared to be a reaction to media reports following Operation Midnight Hammer, a US surprise attack on Iran in June 2025 during a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Several news outlets, including The New York Times and CNN, published details from a preliminary US Defense Intelligence Agency report. This report, not yet publicly released, indicated that Iran had moved enriched uranium from bombed sites and that the damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities was less extensive than Trump had claimed. Trump suggested that the timing of the US attacks was among the leaked information, accusing the media of endangering military personnel. "They leaked the time we were leaving, the time we were arriving," Trump asserted, claiming he had to postpone the bombing campaign by two days. He added, "Somebody leaked. Some sleaze-bag, they ought to go to jail or be shot. For the rest of their life, they should be in jail."

Trump has a history of conflict with the press and has previously called for severe penalties for officials sharing classified information. Following the partial release of the Defense Intelligence Agency report, he blamed Democrats for the leak. "The Democrats are the ones who leaked the information on the PERFECT FLIGHT to the Nuclear Sites in Iran," Trump posted on social media at the time. "They should be prosecuted!"

Under Trump's administration, efforts to identify leakers have been aggressive. White House staff and military personnel have undergone polygraph tests. Journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal have received subpoenas seeking information on their sources for stories concerning events like a failed Navy SEALs raid in North Korea and Pentagon warnings against the Iran war. Last year, the Department of Defense attempted to require journalists to sign agreements not to publish unauthorized material to gain access to the Pentagon, a move largely opposed by the press corps and partially blocked by a federal court.

Trump's strong stance against leakers dates back to his first term (2017-2021). In 2024, former White House official Alyssa Farah Griffin recalled Trump suggesting leakers should be executed after media reported he sought shelter in a White House bunker during 2020 racial justice protests. Trump reiterated his sentiment to Arizona voters on Wednesday, stating, "Leakers should be dealt with very, very strongly. To me, they are the scum of the earth."