In the middle of the holiday season, the White House surprised everyone by releasing a video revealing the names of journalists and media outlets that, according to the Donald Trump administration, published fake news about his administration during the year. In the sarcastic tone of the time, the message asserted that these media outlets would be the “bad kids” who “won’t get presents, only receipts,” placing them on a supposed Santa Claus blacklist.
The post, which briefly appeared on the official White House X account before being deleted, drew criticism for directly targeting communicators and media corporations.
The White House Christmas video: satire, criticism, and political messages
The video opens with a shot of Santa Claus reviewing news headlines that the Trump administration has labeled as fake. Among them are publications from Axios, CNN, The New York Post, and MS Now, which address sensitive issues for both the government and the public, including racial rhetoric, criminal cases, and internal accusations within the FBI.
The headlines shown in the video are:
- «How Trump flipped the racial conversation in America», by Axios
- «CNN’s Jake Tapper criticized for calling the African-American suspect in the Washington bombing a ‘white man’», from the New York Post
- «Kash Patel ordered the FBI to take his girlfriend’s friend home: sources«, from MS Now
After presenting the notes, the video reveals the names of the journalists considered the “bad boys” of Christmas 2025.
The journalists who appear on the White House’s “blacklist”
The video shared on X included a list of eight journalists from various U.S. media outlets. They are:
- Zachary Basu (Axios)
- Russell Contreras (Axios)
- Carol Leonnig (MS Now)
- Ken Dilanian (MSNBC)
- Caitlin McCormack (New York Post)
- Jake Tapper (CNN)
- Billal Rahman (CBS News)
- Adrian Carrasquillo (The Bulwark)
The post had an ironic tone, but it is part of a long-standing confrontation between Donald Trump’s team and the mainstream media, whom the former president and his administration have repeatedly accused of spreading fake news.
Minutes later, the White House removed the video from its official account.
Read more: «El Mayo» Zambada’s sentencing is postponed: New date confirmed for the hearing
The headlines in question: context for the reports criticized by the White House
Axios: Trump’s racial rhetoric Axios: Trump’s racial rhetoric
The text in question refers to the president’s comments about Somali immigrants and their impact on the racial debate in the United States. Axios suggests that the government has abandoned its commitment to combating discrimination, incorporating racial rhetoric into its political strategy.
New York Post and the Brian Cole Jr. case
The second note addresses a media error: CNN journalist Jake Tapper incorrectly described the African-American suspect accused of placing bombs at the Republican and Democratic National Committees in Washington, D.C., as a “white man.”
MS Now: Internal accusations against Kash Patel
In this case, the outlet published a story in which sources claimed that Kash Patel, the FBI director, had asked agents to escort drunk friends and serve as personal bodyguards for his partner.
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson completely denied the information: «This is made up and didn’t happen».
The final message: a Christmas wish with a political twist.
The video concludes with an ironic message directed at the media and journalists singled out:
«Better luck next year. This Christmas you won’t be getting any presents«.
Piece seeks to combine holiday humor with a critical stance toward the media, which, according to the administration, published false or inaccurate information during the year. However, its dissemination and subsequent removal raised questions about the use of official channels to issue direct accusations against journalists.
