President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House. (Photo: AP)
US President Donald Trump on Monday vowed to pursue whom he called a “sick mole” who leaked information on the second airman who went missing after an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down in Iran on April 4. He was later rescued by US officers in a daring operation spanning over 24 hours.
Threatening legal action against the journalists who reported on the weapons systems officer, Trump said his administration would force media organisations to disclose their sources.
The airman had ejected from the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet and spent over 24 hours hiding in a mountain, treating his own wounds, before he was located and rescued by US forces. Trump hailed the airman for being “incredibly brave” and also praised the team that successfully extracted him in an elaborate rescue operation.
However, the incident came to light after reports emerged that a second service member was unaccounted for following the downing of a US aircraft.
Speaking at the White House Monday, Trump said: “We’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say, ‘national security, give it up or go to jail.'”
He argued that the report alerted Iran about the presence of the stranded airman, potentially putting the service member at greater risk.
“They didn’t know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information,” he added.
Trump did not name the journalist or outlet involved but said officials were confident of identifying the source of the leak.
Press freedom concerns grow
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The remarks mark a sharp escalation in Trump’s ongoing confrontations with the media during his second term, with critics warning of threats to press freedom.
Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation defended journalists’ rights to publish leaked information, stressing constitutional protections.
“Journalists don’t work for the government and their right to publish government leaks is protected by the First Amendment… it’s up to the government to keep its secrets, not journalists,” he said.
The White House has said an investigation into the leak is under way, though no further details have been provided.
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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House. (Photo: AP) 
