Trump commends CNN Türk reporter in Oval Office as he rails against CNN
During a joint Oval Office appearance with Turkish President Erdoğan, Trump complimented a CNN Türk reporter while labeling CNN as fake news and pressing for policy on missiles and Russia oil ties.
President Donald Trump praised a journalist from CNN Türk while sharply criticizing CNN in the Oval Office during a joint meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday. The exchange occurred as Trump and Erdoğan fielded questions from reporters, with CNN Türk's Yunus Paksoy asking about American missile-defense systems.
Paksoy pressed: You repeatedly called out the Obama and Biden administrations for their stupid decisions, citing America's refusal to sell Patriot missiles to Turkey. Now, you are known to be a great deal-maker in Turkey, he added. What can you do to undo this stupidity? Trump showed genuine surprise after asking which outlet the reporter worked for. CNN? Wow — because you sounded like a nice guy, he said with a smile, prompting laughs from the crowd. CNN is fake news. But you sound like the real deal to me, so I will answer the question. Trump then proceeded to discuss the sale of military equipment before returning to the reporter's employer.
During the meeting, Trump expressed hope that Erdoğan would stop purchasing oil from Russia, citing Russia's role as an aggressor in Ukraine. Erdoğan used a translator and did not react immediately to the president's comments.
CNN Türk is an independent affiliate owned by Turkish conglomerate Demirören Group under licensing from Warner Bros. Discovery's EMEA division, which manages CNN's cable and satellite stations. The pair's discussion also touched on regional security and energy issues as they hosted reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump has long clashed with CNN, a pattern that dates to the network being labeled fake news in 2017. He has repeatedly sparred with CNN's White House coverage, including with chief White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins during his first term and at a 2023 town hall, where he branded Collins a nasty woman.
Observers say the moment underscores how U.S.–Turkey diplomacy can unfold amid media scrutiny, and may shape expectations for media access at future high-profile diplomatic events.