CNN host Erin Burnett fact-checked a post shared by President Donald Trump, revealing that an image he claimed showed a U.S. military attack on Iran was actually an altered photo from an Israeli strike in June 2025.
Trump's Misleading Post
President Trump shared the image on Truth Social, writing, "This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!" The post was also amplified by the White House on X. The image originally came from the account Open Source Intel, which describes itself as reporting from "verified footage, satellite imagery, official statements, field dispatches, and on-the-ground sources."
Burnett's Fact-Check
During CNN's "OutFront" on Wednesday night, Burnett exposed the inaccuracy. "Well, this is confusing, right? 'Cause he says that this image is in retribution for yesterday, but we can tell you that that image is actually an altered image from what appears to be an Israeli strike in June of last year," Burnett said. She noted the confusion about the post's accuracy.
Open Source Intel's Correction
Open Source Intel later admitted the mistake, posting: "Our mistake…caught and corrected. We post hundreds of times a day in real time. We’ll occasionally get one wrong. Unfortunately it was widely shared before we had the chance to make the correction." The account added, "It’s a big lesson for us in responsibility that we will certainly learn and grow from. That cannot be overstated."
Widespread Criticism
Burnett was not alone in calling out the president. Many online ridiculed Trump for sharing the image. Daniel McAdams, executive director of the Ron Paul Institute, commented on X: "The White House - supported by probably the greatest intelligence community on earth - literally putting out fake news." Other users noted the image was an AI-altered version from a Time magazine article dated June 2025.
