CNN Lets Trump Spokesperson Falsely Blame Obama For 2004 Death Of Captain Humayun Khan

UPDATE: Blitzer Later Corrected Pierson's Claim

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

CNN’s Wolf Blitzer allowed Trump spokesperson Katrina Pierson to falsely blame President Obama for “chang[ing] the rules of engagements” before the death of Capt. Humayun Khan on June 8, 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After allowing Pierson to falsely claim that “it was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagements that probably cost [Humayun Khan] his life,” Blitzer failed to inform viewers that Barack Obama wasn’t President in 2004 and was first sworn in as a U.S. Senator on January 4, 2005. From the August 2 edition of CNN’s The Situation Room:

WOLF BLITZER (HOST): Wasn't he disrespectful, though, to that Gold Star family?

KATRINA PIERSON: Disrespectful by defending himself? He didn't say anything about the son. In fact, he honored his service. The only thing he said, Wolf, is basically “This man knows nothing about me, why is he criticizing me?” How is that an attack?

BLITZER: Well, most people would have just said “You know what? This family has lost a son, a hero, fought on the battle, prevented some of his fellow soldiers from dying by going into that suicide- that car bombing, if you will. I am not going to get into a discussion, a back and forth. I praise this family. I praise the son,” and move on. He didn't have to go back and forth and respond to all of the statements made by the father.

PIERSON: But surely you can understand -- but surely you can understand the confusion, considering how Donald Trump never voted for the Iraq war. Hillary Clinton did. And then she didn't support the troops to have what they need.

It was under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that changed the rules of engagements, that probably cost his life. So, I don't understand why it is so hard to understand why Donald Trump was confused about why he was being held responsible for something he had nothing to do with, while Hillary Clinton had everything to do with.

BLITZER: Katrina Pierson, as usual, thank you so much for joining us.

UPDATE:  Blitzer fact-checked Pierson's bizarre claim in a follow-up segment, noting that Capt. Khan died in Iraq “five years before President Obama took office.”