Trump deflects war crimes question about Iran, turns attention to ‘failing’ New York Times circulation instead
Given how often he has been doing it since last year, it seems that deflecting questions has become second nature to Donald Trump. During a recent press conference aimed at discussing US escalations in Iran, Trump fell back into old habits when he was held accountable for his actions in Iran, which some have equated to war crimes.
When a journalist asked Donald Trump during the press conference held on April 6, 2026, whether he was aware that his actions in Iran violated the Geneva Convention and whether he was concerned that they amounted to war crimes, Trump thought it was fitting to first ask the journalist which outlet he represented. Then, as he proceeded to say that he represented The New York Times, Trump stated that they were failing and their circulation was “way down” before replying with a “no” to the question he was asked, and then adding that he hoped that he did not “have to do it,” the “it” here meaning causing widespread destruction in Iran by bombing its infrastructure.
Donald Trump criticizes a NYT journalist and avoids “war crime” question
As mentioned earlier, on April 6, 2026, when a journalist from The New York Times asked Donald Trump to comment on the fact that his actions in Iran were considered war crimes against humanity, Trump initially tried to deflect the question by criticizing the outlet and the person representing it, saying it was “failing.” Then, when he finally responded, he avoided giving a direct answer, instead emphasizing that he was not willing to take extreme measures in Iran but keeping the possibility open, suggesting that if he “had to,” he would.
Trump also repeatedly stressed that Iran posed a huge threat to the world and claimed that his actions there would only provide security for the United States and the people of Iran, in that they would have no nuclear weapons, and that the effects of his policies would last long after he was no longer president.
Trump is still salty with the NYT over his past experiences
Since Trump did not answer the question asked by the New York Times journalist, the journalist tried to pressure him into speaking about it by rephrasing his statement. However, once again, Trump did not appear willing to respond. Instead, he deflected the question again and shifted his focus to criticizing the New York Times for misjudging him during the 2024 presidential elections.
He said, “You no longer have credibility at the New York Times because the New York Times said, ‘Oh, Trump won’t win the election,’ and I won in a landslide. I won every swing state. New York Times said, ‘Oh, Trump won’t win the election.’ New York Times has no credibility.” The credibility they have is it used to be all the news that’s fit to print…The old gray lady, it was great. But they’re running on past fumes, and you can’t keep doing that. You have to be able to give the correct news. And people like you who I know are fake, you’re fake.”
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