The Associated Press has issued a retraction for an erroneous story that falsely claimed U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard referred to Presidents Trump and Putin as “very good friends.” The high-profile error has intensified scrutiny of media accuracy while highlighting deepening tensions between the AP and the Trump White House. As the news agency struggles to repair its credibility, it fights a legal battle over press access that may have far-reaching implications for media organizations nationwide.
AP Forced to Retract False Trump-Putin Connection
The Associated Press faced significant backlash after publishing a story that claimed Tulsi Gabbard had described Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as “very good friends.” The report, which quickly spread across news platforms, was factually incorrect. In reality, Gabbard was referring to Trump and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Mod,i during her statements made in India. The error was substantial enough that the AP completely withdrew the article rather than simply updating it, acknowledging that the story “did not meet our standards.”
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,… pic.twitter.com/1chFZQqTEd
— Alexa Henning (@alexahenning) March 18, 2025
In the corrected version published afterward, the AP included an editor’s note that explicitly clarified the mistake, stating they had removed the original story because Gabbard was speaking about Trump and Modi, not Putin. The news agency informed their customers about the error and emphasized their commitment to transparency in the correction process, but the damage to their credibility had already been done.
Gabbard’s Team Condemns Media “Bias”
Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for Gabbard, did not hold back in criticizing the Associated Press for what she viewed as a deliberate misrepresentation. Henning took to social media to call out both the news organization and the reporter who authored the piece, saying, “I emailed @AP and @DavidKlepper and have heard nothing regarding their literal fake news article about the DNI. Won’t hold my breath.”
AP caught red-handed making false claims about Gabbard — forced to retract story | Blaze Media https://t.co/rE53G5pl3w
— GreatThee (@pdevers) March 18, 2025
“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 biased media. If this isn’t a clear example of pushing a solely political narrative, then nothing is.”
The spokesperson’s criticism reflects growing frustration among conservative figures who believe mainstream media outlets deliberately misrepresent statements to create negative associations, particularly regarding Trump’s relationship with Russia. Despite reaching out to the article’s author, David Klepper, Henning reported receiving no response to her inquiries about the false reporting.
Broader Context: Gabbard’s Diplomatic Mission
The misquoted statements came during Gabbard’s diplomatic visit to India, part of a tour with scheduled stops in Thailand and Japan. During her visit, Gabbard met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss strengthening U.S.- India relations. The corrected AP coverage noted that in her remarks, Gabbard criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the Ukraine conflict while praising Trump’s approach to seeking peace.
Further complicating the narrative, the retraction came shortly after Trump had engaged in a phone conversation with Putin regarding a potential 30-day partial ceasefire. The timing of the false report suggesting a close Trump-Putin friendship appeared to some as an attempt to cast this diplomatic engagement in a suspicious light rather than as a legitimate peace effort.
Escalating Tensions Between AP and White House
The retraction comes amid deteriorating relations between the Associated Press and the White House. The AP was recently removed from the White House press pool following a dispute over naming conventions. At issue was the AP’s refusal to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” in their reporting, which led to their exclusion from certain press events.
In response to being barred from the press pool, the Associated Press has taken legal action against the White House, claiming their First Amendment rights have been violated. The lawsuit represents a significant escalation in tensions between the media organization and the administration, with potential implications for press access and freedom.
The timing of these conflicts, coupled with the high-profile retraction, has led many observers to question whether personal and political tensions affect journalistic standards at one of the world’s most influential news agencies. The suit remains ongoing as both sides maintain their positions on press access and naming conventions.