Judy Woodruff of PBS apologizes for saying Trump was trying to kill Israel ceasefire deal, offers clarification after outrage



Senior journalist Judy Woodruff of PBS apologized and offered a clarification after claiming that former President Donald Trump had tried to kill a ceasefire deal in the Middle East for political gain.

Woodruff was widely criticized for the comments made during a broadcast on Monday from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

'This isn’t journalism. It’s advocacy on behalf of Democrats.'

"The reporting is that former President Trump is on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel, urging him not to cut a deal right now, because it’s believed it would help the Harris campaign," said Woodruff.

The Prime Minister's Office in Israel categorically denied the claim.

On Wednesday, she issued the clarification and apology.

“I want to clarify my remarks on the PBS News special on Monday night about the ongoing cease fire talks in the Middle East," wrote Woodruff.

"As I said, this was not based on my original reporting; I was referring to reports I had read, in Axios and Reuters, about former President Trump having spoken to the Israeli Prime Minister," she continued. "In the live TV moment, I repeated the story because I hadn't seen later reporting that both sides denied it. This was a mistake and I apologize for it.”

Woodruff had been immediately scolded for airing the unconfirmed report.

"My former colleague @JudyWoodruff knows better than to make such an electrifying statement about Trump and Netanyahu and not source…if it is true, then just source it…we can all deal w/ the truth..not to source is just gossip and not journalism..it is national enquirer," responded Greta Van Susteren of Newsmax.

"This is a lie from @JudyWoodruff - shame on @pbs for having 4 other people sit in silence while Woodruff slimes Trump with a lie," said Richard Grenell, who worked in the Trump administration. "Why doesn’t PBS have dissenting views? This isn’t journalism. It’s advocacy on behalf of Democrats. Shame on Judy."

Woodruff wasn't the only figure criticized for comments about the ceasefire at the DNC. Socialist Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York was excoriated by pro-Palestinian activists for claiming that candidate Kamala Harris had been working "tirelessly" for a ceasefire.

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Vice President Kamala Harris praises GOP Rep. Liz Cheney: 'I applaud her courage to speak truth'



During an interview on PBS NewsHour, Vice President Kamala Harris praised GOP Rep. Liz Cheney's "courage to speak truth."

Last January, Cheney issued a statement attributing blame for the violent and chaotic Jan. 6 episode to then-President Donald Trump. In part of that statement, she declared that Trump "summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack."

Judy Woodruff of PBS read Cheney's quote and asked Harris whether the lawmaker was correct.

"Yes," Harris said. "I applaud her courage to speak truth."

Cheney, who was one of 10 House Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching then-President Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, has been an outspoken Trump critic, and was ousted last year from her role as House Republican Conference chair.

The lawmaker from Wyoming is one of the only two Republicans members on the select committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 episode.

WATCH: Vice President Kamala Harris tells @JudyWoodruff that she applauds GOP Rep. Liz Cheney's courage in trying to hold former President Trump accountable for the Jan. 6 attack \u2014 one of few Republicans to do so.\n\n"These are moments where we must speak truth," Harris says.pic.twitter.com/IL6EHKG9Oz
— PBS NewsHour (@PBS NewsHour) 1641509380

During a speech marking the one-year anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021 on Thursday, Harris drew a parallel between that day and two other infamous dates in the nation's history, namely, the date the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor during World War II and the date of the 9/11 terror attacks.

"Certain dates echo throughout history, including dates that instantly remind all who have lived through them where they were, and what they were doing, when our democracy came under assault," Harris said. "Dates that occupy not only a place on our calendars, but a place in our collective memory: December 7th, 1941, September 11th, 2001, and January 6th, 2021."