Trump Says People Leaking Sensitive Military Information Should Be Shot

October 15, 2026

Washington: US President Donald Trump has called for people who leak sensitive military information to be shot, claiming that the disclosure of operational details surrounding American strikes against Iran endangered a highly classified mission and forced him to change the timing of an attack.

Speaking at an election rally in Bullhead City, Arizona, Trump said information about the departure and arrival times of US bombers had been leaked to the media ahead of a planned operation against Iranian nuclear facilities.

“But they leaked. Leakers should be… in my opinion, leakers should be shot. They should be shot,” Trump told supporters.

The President said reports published by The New York Times and CNN had revealed details about the mission involving B-2 stealth bombers departing from Missouri. He claimed the information was sensitive enough to compromise the operation.

“They ought to go to jail and be shot. For the rest of their life, they should be in jail,” Trump said.

Trump did not identify the alleged leaker or provide evidence establishing who had disclosed the information. He also did not say whether an investigation had identified any suspect.

Trump Claims Leak Forced Change in Military Operation

According to Trump’s account, he abandoned the original mission schedule after consulting senior military officials about the potential consequences of the disclosure.

He said he spoke with General Razin Caine about whether the operation should proceed as planned. Trump claimed he subsequently ordered the mission postponed, despite objections from pilots who had prepared for the assignment.

“I said let’s change the time. So, I called off the raid. And you know who the unhappiest people were? The pilots. They were miserable,” he said.

Trump said the operation was eventually carried out two days later, using the same departure time that had initially been disclosed. He argued that repeating the original schedule caught Iranian forces by surprise.

The President claimed Iranian forces had been waiting for the American bombers but failed to detect them during the operation. He described the mission as part of Washington’s efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

The details of the alleged leak, the decision to postpone the mission and the subsequent operation could not be independently established from Trump’s remarks.

Trump Demands Severe Punishment for Military Leaks

Trump argued that disclosing operational details during an active military campaign warranted particularly severe punishment.

“In the old days, we used to shoot leakers, you know, when…. when they leak what time you’re going to attack a country,” he said.

“No, leakers should be dealt with very, very strongly. They’re real to me, they’re… they’re the scum of the earth,” he added.

The remarks came as Trump addressed supporters at a campaign rally aimed at strengthening Republican prospects in the November 3 congressional midterm elections.

The United States has criminal laws governing the unauthorised disclosure of national defence information. The Espionage Act is among the principal federal statutes used in cases involving the unlawful retention or transmission of such material.