Following Donald Trump’s decision to strip CNN, Politico, and MS NOW of their White House press credentials, a bizarre rumor spread across social media suggesting that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had rebuked the US president over freedom of the press.
WASHINGTON, DC: In the wake of President Donald Trump barring specific news organizations from the White House, internet users began sharing a fabricated story alleging that Kim Jong Un stepped forward to defend journalistic freedom. The unlikely scenario quickly went viral, drawing both ridicule and confusion, which ultimately triggered a thorough investigation into its origins.
The Rumor: Did Kim Jong Un really defend press freedom?
According to widely shared posts circulating on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), Kim Jong Un supposedly issued a warning that Trump’s media ban would severely damage the free press.
The posts accumulated tens of thousands of views within a short timeframe, sparking diverse reactions online. While a large portion of users immediately recognized the absurdity and mocked the premise, others took the post at face value—some even attacking the North Korean dictator for hypocrisy given his own country’s strict media censorship. Meanwhile, a handful of users remained doubtful, questioning the authenticity of the quote.
The Reality: A Joke from a Parody Account
Investigators swiftly confirmed that the claim is entirely fabricated. There is zero evidence or official record suggesting the North Korean supreme leader ever made such a statement. No transcripts, press releases, or official state declarations exist to back up the rumor.
Because direct access to North Korean state announcements is heavily restricted, researchers utilized KCNAWatch—an open-source archive run by the South Korea-based NK News—to double-check state media archives. No such remarks were found.
Furthermore, an announcement of this magnitude from a hostile foreign leader regarding American domestic policy would undoubtedly dominate global headlines. A broader search across mainstream news engines yielded no credible corroboration, and it was eventually discovered that the narrative originated entirely from a well-known satirical publication, ‘The Botowitz Report.’
Background: Trump Cuts Access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW
The viral satire was born out of real-world headlines after Trump announced that journalists representing CNN, Politico, and MS NOW would lose their White House press privileges. He accused these organizations of pushing “Fake News” and hinted that other media outlets could face similar repercussions.
Taking to his Truth Social profile, Trump stated, “I am proud to announce that, effective immediately, I am banning Fake News CNN, MSNOW … and Politico … from the White House as a result of their constant ‘reporting’ FAKE NEWS!”
He later reiterated his stance to reporters, explaining, “Because they’re fake news. You get so tired of reading and seeing fake news. When you look at CNN, it’s just fake. That’s why their ratings are no good. When you look at MS NOW…, it’s fake news.”