Trump says CNN may have committed a crime. The First Amendment says otherwise
By Loreben Tuquero
Published on April 13, 2026.
President Donald Trump has accused CNN of publishing a "fake" statement from Iran, alleging that it knowingly published false information. This comes within two hours of Trump announcing a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war, provided that Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. The statement was attributed to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which outlined elements of the 10-point plan. After Trump's criticism, CNN stood by its reporting. The Federal Communications Commission chairman, Brendan Carr, said CNN pushed out a "hoax headline". First Amendment experts argue that penalizing speech only on its accuracy would be unconstitutional.
Read Original Article