Things got testy on CNN’s “The Source” as host Kaitlan Collins fact-checked Mike Waltz, the Trump administration’s ambassador to the United Nations, about the president’s reasoning for banning select media outlets from the White House.
On Friday, Trump revoked the press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico because of what he described as “fake news” coverage of his economy and the war in Iran. During the segment, Waltz claimed that Trump was right to invoke “national security” in his ban because those outlets have published stories relying on anonymous sources, especially about the U.S.’s munitions supply in the Middle East.
Collins fact-checked Waltz about the claim, which caused the segment to get heated.
“Well, that’s not what the president cited when he banned CNN and the two other outlets,” Collins said to Waltz. “But on the munitions, those were in the Inspector General’s report from the Pentagon talking about shortages … [and they are] obligated to give that report to Congress.”
Waltz seemed caught off guard by Collins’ fact-check.
“I mean, you know, I hope we have a lot of air time to talk about this,” Waltz said. “There’s an investigative report, but there’s also been a whole slew of anonymous sources. And we know our adversaries pay attention to the headlines. And when you’re essentially signaling to the world that the United States is out of ammunition, when in fact, that’s not true. That’s a legitimate concern. And it certainly is a threat to our national security.”
“The report talked about munition shortages, did it not?” Collins shot back.
Waltz was taken aback by the question and stammered as he claimed that it pointed to cuts under the Obama administration.
“That’s what the IG report was talking about. That’s very different than anonymous sources on the Secretary,” Waltz said.
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