President Donald Trump has called for a federal investigation into government officials and journalists following a series of high-level leaks regarding the ongoing war with Iran. According to a Monday report from The Wall Street Journal, the President directed acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to identify the sources of sensitive national security information appearing in the press.
The investigation is reportedly centered on the Department of Defense and other executive agencies. Administration officials told the Journal that Trump met with Blanche last month to express his frustration, allegedly handing the acting attorney general a stack of news clippings with a sticky note labeled “treason.”
In response, Blanche reportedly pledged to use grand jury subpoenas to obtain the records of reporters who have published classified details about the military campaign.
READ: Trump Hits IRGC Where It Hurts: Massive New ‘Economic Fury’ Sanctions Choke Off Illicit Oil Cash
The crackdown follows months of internal friction over media disclosures. In April 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly threatened the acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with polygraph tests to root out leakers within the Pentagon. While some staff members were eventually tested, the White House ordered the department to halt the practice in July.
Tensions peaked following a recent New York Times report detailing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s role in influencing the U.S. decision to bomb Iran. That article suggested that Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were privately skeptical of claims that the strikes would trigger regime change.
The Wall Street Journal confirmed it received grand jury subpoenas on March 4 seeking the records of its reporters. The probe specifically targets a February 23 article regarding warnings from Gen. Dan Caine and other Pentagon leaders about the risks of an extended campaign. Trump officially launched the war on February 28.
“The government’s subpoenas to The Wall Street Journal and our reporters represent an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering,” said Ashok Sinha, chief communications officer for Dow Jones. “We will vigorously oppose this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting.”
The legal battle comes as the administration faces scrutiny over its initial assessments of the conflict. While the Journal reported on March 13 that the President believed Iran would not close the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping lane has remained shut for more than two months.
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