Leavitt Demands Retraction Of Story Claiming FBI Warns Iran Could Attack Calif.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted ABC News on Thursday, demanding the outlet retract what she described as a misleading report suggesting that Iran was preparing a drone attack against the U.S. West Coast.

The controversy erupted after ABC News posted a message on X claiming that federal authorities had warned California law enforcement about a potential Iranian retaliation.

“BREAKING: The FBI has warned police departments in California that Iran wants to retaliate for American attacks by launching offensive drones against the West Coast, according to an alert reviewed by @ABC News.”

Leavitt swiftly pushed back against the claim, accusing the outlet of spreading fear based on incomplete and inaccurate reporting.

“This post and story should be immediately retracted by ABC News for providing false information to intentionally alarm the American people,” she wrote.

According to Leavitt, the report was based on a single communication sent to local law enforcement referencing a tip that had not been verified.

“They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip. The email even states the tip was based on unverified intelligence. Yet ABC News left out this critical fact in their story! WHY?”

Leavitt then made the administration’s position clear, emphasizing that there was no credible threat against the United States.

“TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did,” she said.

FBI Official Highlights Missing Detail

Leavitt also shared a post from Ben Williamson showing side-by-side screenshots comparing the ABC report with the actual alert sent by the FBI.

“On the left is the way ABC (or their source) reported the FBI alert. On the right is the actual FBI alert that went to JTFF partners. You will notice the word left out —’Unverified.’”

After criticism mounted, ABC News quietly updated its article with an editor’s note acknowledging the missing context.

“The FBI has posted a fuller version of its alert to California authorities, which includes that the information was unverified. The latest version of this story has been updated with the full statement.”

President Trump Addresses the Situation

When asked about the initial alert, Donald J. Trump told reporters that authorities were reviewing the information but stressed that officials must evaluate threats carefully as they arise.

“It’s being investigated. But you have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come, and the war itself is being prosecuted as well as anybody has ever seen.”

U.S. Military Launches Major Strike on Iranian Targets

The dispute over media coverage came as tensions with Iran escalated dramatically.

On Friday evening, President Trump revealed that the United States military had conducted a massive bombing operation targeting Iranian military assets on Kharg Island.

Trump announced the strike in a post on Truth Social, saying the operation was carried out by United States Central Command.

“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”

Despite the scale of the strike, Trump said the U.S. intentionally avoided destroying the island’s oil infrastructure as a sign of restraint.

“Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island.”

Warning Over Strait of Hormuz

Trump also issued a clear warning to Iran regarding the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit chokepoints.

“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” Trump said.

The president credited the strength of the U.S. armed forces for the operation’s success, arguing that years of military rebuilding have given America unmatched capabilities.

“During my First Term, and currently, I rebuilt our Military into the Most Lethal, Powerful, and Effective Force, by far, anywhere in the World,” he noted, adding that Iran does not possess the ability to defend against such strikes.