Associated Press bungles article about Tulsi Gabbard, falsely claims she said Trump and Putin are “very good friends” when she was actually referring to Prime Minister Modi.
At a Glance
- AP retracted a story that wrongly claimed Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard said Trump and Russian President Putin were “very good friends”
- Gabbard was actually referring to Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an NDTV interview
- The AP issued a correction with an editor’s note after Gabbard’s spokesperson blasted the outlet for “pushing a solely political narrative”
- This incident follows ongoing tensions between AP and the White House, which recently barred AP from the press pool over a naming dispute
Media Misstep Leads to Major Retraction
The Associated Press found itself in hot water after publishing a story falsely claiming that U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard described President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “very good friends.” The error wasn’t a minor detail but the central claim of the article, which suggested a dramatic shift in U.S.-Russia relations under the Trump administration. After discovering the misrepresentation, AP was forced to retract the story entirely, acknowledging that Gabbard had actually been referring to Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not Putin.
The Associated Press was forced to withdraw one of its Monday articles after it falsely claimed that U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called President Trump and Russian President Putin "very good friends." https://t.co/shlh6usjiz
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 18, 2025
The misstep occurred when AP reporter David Klepper misinterpreted comments Gabbard made during an interview with NDTV while she was visiting India for a conference. Rather than talking about Putin, Gabbard was discussing the positive relationship between Trump and Modi, which carries entirely different diplomatic implications. The story quickly garnered attention — and criticism — before AP acknowledged their error and took corrective action by removing the original article and publishing an updated version with an explanatory note.
Swift and Fierce Backlash
The backlash to AP’s error was immediate and forceful, particularly from Gabbard’s team. Her spokesperson, Alexa Henning, didn’t mince words when addressing the mistake on social media, calling the misrepresentation an example of “literal fake news” and lambasting the news organization’s journalistic standards. The strong criticism highlighted the frustration many conservatives feel about perceived media bias against the Trump administration and its officials.
“The AP is total trash. DNI @TulsiGabbard was referring to PM Modi & President Trump and this is the headline they publish. This is why no one trusts the maliciously incompetent and purposefully bias media. If this isn’t a clear example of pushing a solely political narrative, then nothing is,” said Alexa Henning, Gabbard’s spokesperson.
The Associated Press issued a formal statement withdrawing the story, stating: “AP has removed its story about U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard saying President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘are very good friends’ because it did not meet our standards. We notified customers and published a corrected story with an editor’s note to be transparent about the error.”
Broader Pattern of Media Tensions
This incident doesn’t exist in isolation but rather fits into a larger pattern of strained relations between major media outlets and the Trump administration. The retraction came shortly after the White House removed the Associated Press from its press pool over a separate dispute regarding the naming of the Gulf of Mexico. President Trump wanted it referred to as the “Gulf of America,” but AP maintained its editorial standards by using the internationally recognized name.
The dispute escalated to a legal battle when the Associated Press sued the White House, claiming that being excluded from the press pool constitutes a violation of its First Amendment rights. The lawsuit remains ongoing, highlighting the increasingly contentious relationship between the administration and certain media outlets. These tensions reflect deeper divides over press freedom, editorial independence, and the role of media in our democracy.
Actual Diplomacy vs. Media Narrative
Lost in the controversy over the misreporting was the actual diplomatic news that Gabbard was conveying. While in India, she discussed strengthening U.S.-India relations and criticized the previous administration’s handling of international affairs. In the corrected reporting, it became clear that Gabbard was highlighting the positive relationship between Trump and Modi as beneficial for both nations, while also noting Trump’s recent diplomatic breakthrough in securing a 30-day partial ceasefire through direct discussions with Putin.
President Trump himself has recently challenged media narratives about his international diplomacy efforts. When Sky News reported that Putin had kept Trump’s envoy waiting for over nine hours, the President quickly denounced it as “Fake News,” stating: “Why can’t they be honest, just for once? Last night I read that President Vladimir Putin of Russia kept my Highly Respected Ambassador and Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, waiting for over nine hours when, in fact, there was no wait whatsoever.”
This episode serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of hasty reporting and the damage it can cause to public trust in journalism. In an era where accusations of “fake news” abound, the AP’s misreporting only reinforces skepticism about mainstream media accuracy, especially among conservative audiences who already view many outlets with suspicion. The incident underscores the critical importance of thorough fact-checking before publication, particularly on matters of international diplomacy where misrepresentations can have serious implications.
