A funny thing happens whenever the media trots out a new 'We've Got Him THIS Time' story aimed at smearing the Trump administration. All of a sudden, experts start sprouting up all over X to announce with absolute certainty of the truth of the latest allegation.
Yesterday, we were treated to an avalanche of new scholars on the subject of military 'perfidy.'
If you are not familiar with that term, you are like 99.999 percent of Twitter users a few days ago.
But now that The New York Times dropped a new hit piece, amazingly, everyone knows every last detail regarding perfidy and how Pete Hegseth and the US military are TOTALLY guilty of that crime.
For the record, perfidy is unlawful deception in an armed conflict, such as holding up a white flag of surrender before attacking the enemy, or posing as a civilian (which the media has no problem with when Hamas does that).
But that is what six -- count them, SIX -- writers for the Times accused the administration of in its prosecution of Venezuelan narcoterrorist boats.
Breaking NYT:
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 13, 2026
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."…
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
— Charlie Savage (@charlie_savage) January 12, 2026
Even accepting the Trump administration’s claim that there is an armed conflict with suspected drug runners, the laws of war bar “perfidy.”https://t.co/ul54FtjKsO
And heeeeere come the perfidy 'experts.'
The only problem with the Times' story, which you can read here, is that they have no evidence of the alleged perfidy. Like most hit pieces, it relies on unnamed sources and comments from others who offer stunning insights like, 'This is big, if true.'
We will credit the Times for including quotes from the administration denying the charge. However, they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble and embarrassment if just one of their six writers had asked someone who IS an expert on armed conflict law. This might have included current EPA administrator Lee Zeldin, who spent much of his career in the Military Intelligence Corps.
Last night, Zeldin let the Times have it with both barrels for their irresponsible, inflammatory 'reporting.'
BREAKING: NY Times reporters escalate their internal contest to out moron each other this evening.
— Lee Zeldin (@LeeMZeldin) January 13, 2026
I’ve studied, taught, and implemented the Law of Armed Conflict in the US Army for almost my entire adult life, and at no point have I seen anyone claim this level of an idiotic… https://t.co/w9ydFXbuOt
His post continues:
... this level of an idiotic take.
What the military can’t do is add certain symbols to pretend the plane is Red Cross, UN, or something otherwise protected. Likewise, if you paint a Delta or American Airlines logo on the side, for example, that feigns a civilian aircraft. A military plane not having any of these symbols at all doesn’t just make it a de facto civilian aircraft no matter how much TDS has overwhelmed your system.
In other words, the military didn't commit perfidy. The plane was not 'disguised' as a civilian aircraft, as the Times baselessly alleged. All they did was not paint bright, neon signs on the sides of the aircraft with blinking lights announcing, 'This is an armed military plane!'
Sorry to break it to the Times, but stealth is not perfidy.
Building a military aircraft type on a civilian 737 airframe is not “perfidy” you nitwit. https://t.co/RccUK7SODH
— Cyborg Pediatrician (@CyborgPeds) January 13, 2026
No fewer than 6 reporters were used for that story.
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) January 13, 2026
It’s like the more that were added the dumber the article became. https://t.co/jxsDzz7cOL
We now have a solution to the riddle, 'What is more dishonest and disingenuous than a New York Times reporter?'
The answer? SIX New York Times reporters.
The New York Times finally discovers "perfidy."
— Rabbi Josh Yuter (@JYuter) January 13, 2026
(Search on the right starts from 2023) pic.twitter.com/j9rqQfkk4o
What is missing from that search result is a single mention of the word perfidy from the New York Times, as Hamas was firing rockets out of Gaza hospitals at Israeli civilians.
That seems weird.
Dear @nytimes & other Monday morning quarterbacks:
— Mark Goldfeder (@MarkGoldfeder) January 13, 2026
You are very quick to declare “war crime” and “perfidy” on facts that you don't actually know.
“Perfidy” has a specific meaning in the law of armed conflict. It’s not a synonym for “deception,” or “surprise.” Let me explain: https://t.co/F1Gr1YASeD
AP I, Art. 37(2) expressly says ruses of war are not prohibited. Camouflage, decoys, misinformation—all are lawful if they don’t exploit protected status.https://t.co/64pnI5Jlow
— Mark Goldfeder (@MarkGoldfeder) January 13, 2026
That’s why “war crime” talk on a classified fact pattern is reckless. You can’t skip the element you can’t prove and still call it analysis.
— Mark Goldfeder (@MarkGoldfeder) January 13, 2026
Words matter. Accusations should too.
And if you’re going to accuse people of war crimes, the burden is higher than “looks non-military.”
Apparently, all six reporters were too busy thinking about all of the clicks they were about to get to look up the actual international treaty on the topic of perfidy.
The Stealth Bomber doesn't even show up on radar, Lee: It must be a WAR CRIME. They couldn't even see it coming.
— Hashtag As F (@HashtagOAF) January 13, 2026
HA.
Don't give the Times any ideas for their next hit piece.
"according to officials briefed on the matter" 🙄 is the gift that keeps on giving.
— elGuapo (@TheBooth_Review) January 13, 2026
Where would the legacy media be without their always reliable 'anonymous sources'?
Hmmm…not sure if I should believe you, an expert with experience and credentials, or random commenters who just discovered the word “perfidy” today
— Keith Maniac, from Guatemala (@from_maniac) January 13, 2026
We know who The New York Times wants everyone on social media to believe.
And that's why they have lost all credibility.
So...does this also mean the boats that pretend to be fishing boats, are guilty of "perfidy"?@nytimes IS A JOKE !!
— Is it Friday 🇺🇸🍀🌻🥎🦍 (@Texagchick) January 13, 2026
Say, now that's a pretty good question.
We won't hold our breath waiting for the Times to provide an answer.
They’re so proud of this latest propaganda piece that they listed no fewer than six stenographers as authors, including at least three notorious regime media operatives with a very long track record of laundering deep state narratives. https://t.co/NV3ZTJpzwH pic.twitter.com/KnE71vmH1t
— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) January 13, 2026
Actually, we're appreciative of the listing of everyone's name and photograph associated with this agitprop.
It makes for a handy, dandy cheat sheet on who to NEVER believe.
Does the @nytimes care about facts? https://t.co/2uZcPeBnSD
— Liz Peek (@lizpeek) January 13, 2026
LOL. Good one.
We'll just assume that was a rhetorical question.
Lee Zeldin setting the record straight. https://t.co/uiPqDY8ddB
— K (@mrsrdc1) January 13, 2026
To repeat, if the Times cared about journalism, they could have asked Zeldin to begin with.
But, as we all know, that's not what they care about. They just want to take down the administration by any means necessary, stupid or otherwise.
They achieved their objective, though. They ginned up some fake outrage and got everyone talking about 'perfidy' for a day or two.
Now, they will forget this article that has no basis in law or fact, and move on to the next manufactured 'scandal.'
Maybe they can dig up the terms 'trover' and 'replevin' for when the government seizes back the assets of fraudulent Democrats and Somali pirates in Minnesota.
============================================
Related:
OOPS! Joy Reid Says the Quiet Part Out Loud In Insanely Racist Rant About Renee Good
Salena Zito DROPS Broken, Bitter Old Crank John Cleese For His Shameful Trump Assassination Post
Just LEAVE Already: Senior Ilhan Omar Staffer BEGS Other Countries for Help
'Soy El Dweebo': Eric Swalwell's Personal Cringe Reel Gets a Hilarious New Addition
Now the Car Was Already MOVING? Ilhan Omar Tries Out a New Lie About Minneapolis ICE Shooting
