CNN anchor Jake Tapper and former director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent traded barbs over media coverage of Operation Epic Fury and Iranian state-promoted propaganda.
Kent, who abruptly left his position in the United States intelligence community over President Donald Trump’s military operation in Iran, spurred the back-and-forth when he commented on the ongoing rescue mission to retrieve an airman from behind enemy lines in Iran.
“Praying for the rescue of our downed pilot & the safe return of our Special Operators going in to get him back. USAF PJs & CSAR Air crews are top notch,” Kent posted, but also shared a report from Drop Site News that parroted Iranian propaganda that suggested the United States was actively attempting to kill the downed airman rather than rescue him.
Iranian state-linked Tasnim News, citing a military source, claims U.S. forces are bombing areas in southwest Iran where a missing pilot may be located, alleging Washington has “lost hope” of recovery and is attempting to kill him.
Tapper pushed back early on Monday, one day after an elaborate rescue mission had succeeded in safely extracting the weapon systems specialist, saying, “Former National Counterterrorism Center director Joe Kent sharing Iranian state-linked outlet nonsense claiming, falsely, that the U.S. was trying to kill the then-lost U.S. pilot. Aged rather poorly, I think it’s fair to say.”
Kent responded by claiming that Tapper was promoting the war and that Iranian media was “independent,” and said that anyone “cheering on wars” should be questioned.
“Tapper’s purpose, like the entire corporate media, is to promote this foolish war & attack anyone who points out how this war isn’t in our nation’s interest. Read independent media, Iranian media & US media – always question those cheering on wars & always pray for our troops,” he posted.
The CNN anchor disputed Kent’s characterization, saying that neither he nor CNN were in the business of promoting any war. “We cover it, critically.”
“Moreover, I wasn’t attacking Mr. Kent. I pointed out that he had promoted false information suggesting the U.S. was seeking to *kill* the missing U.S. pilot. Wild stuff,” Tapper concluded.
Kent had previously called for far more aggressive treatment of Iran, but pivoted and quickly announced his departure from the Trump administration after the president took action.
