By Gloria Ogbonna
During a heated discussion on Anderson Cooper 360° Friday night, political commentator and former congressman Adam Kinzinger sharply criticized Donald Trump, accusing the president of spreading misinformation about military operations and behaving in a manner similar to Vladimir Putin.
Speaking on the CNN program hosted by Anderson Cooper, Kinzinger pointed to a recent bombing incident involving a girls’ school that resulted in civilian casualties.
He described the event as a tragic accident but emphasized that such incidents, while devastating, can occur during wartime.
Kinzinger noted that throughout modern history, U.S. administrations have generally acknowledged mistakes when civilians were harmed during military operations. According to him, the typical response from American leaders has been to admit the incident, promise an investigation, and express regret.
“Let’s just look at the bombing of the girls’ school — a very tragic accident,” Kinzinger said. “Accidents happen in war. I don’t think we’ve ever had a conflict where something bad hasn’t happened.”
He argued that previous administrations would usually acknowledge the seriousness of such events rather than attempt to shift blame. “They’ll say we’re investigating how it happened, that we’re truly sorry, and then we move forward,” he explained.
However, Kinzinger said the response from Trump was different and troubling. He accused the president of refusing to take responsibility and instead spreading claims that he believes are false.
According to Kinzinger, Trump attempted to blame Iran by suggesting that Iranian forces were responsible for the strike using a Tomahawk cruise missile.
Kinzinger strongly disputed that claim, arguing that the weapon in question is a type of missile primarily associated with the United States military.
“He said the Iranians had a Tomahawk cruise missile, which, by the way, only the United States has,” Kinzinger said, adding that statements like that damage credibility and undermine public trust.
He went further, comparing the president’s response to tactics used by the Russian government during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Kinzinger said the strategy of denying responsibility and blaming others mirrors how Moscow has responded to accusations involving civilian targets.
“You know, Vladimir Putin bombs something in Ukraine — which, by the way, he does every day — and then he blames the Ukrainians for doing it,” Kinzinger said. “That’s exactly what Donald Trump did.”
Kinzinger argued that such messaging can erode trust among both Americans and international allies.
“They wonder why people are turning against them or why people don’t trust them,” he added.
At the same time, Kinzinger acknowledged that political leaders and defense officials often try to frame military developments in a favorable way, particularly during times of conflict.
He said it is understandable that officials within the United States Department of Defense and figures such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would attempt to present events in a way that maintains public support.
“I understand the Pentagon and Hegseth and Trump have to try to put a positive spin on this,” Kinzinger said. “I don’t begrudge them that. That’s part of the work of trying to sell a war.”
However, he argued that there is a clear line between shaping a narrative and spreading misinformation.
According to Kinzinger, crossing that line by “straight up lying” and attacking journalists who report on the situation undermines democratic accountability and transparency.
He also pushed back against claims that major news outlets are exaggerating the situation. Kinzinger defended CNN’s reporting, saying the network has simply been presenting information as it becomes available.
“CNN hasn’t been leading with how awful everything is,” he said. “CNN has been reporting the news as the news comes out.”
Kinzinger concluded by warning that attempts to discredit journalists could create a media environment similar to authoritarian regimes where dissenting voices are suppressed.
He said the expectation from some political leaders appears to be unquestioning loyalty from the press.
“What they want is a bunch of North Korea-style shaking your head ‘yes’ — the great leader says it’s okay,” he said.
The remarks come amid rising political tensions surrounding military operations and the role of the media in covering them, with critics and supporters of the administration continuing to clash over transparency, accountability, and the accuracy of official statements.
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments