Judy Woodruff Apologizes for Comments on Israel Peace Talks

Veteran PBS correspondent Judy Woodruff issued an apology on Wednesday for comments she made regarding former President Donald Trump and cease-fire negotiations in Gaza. During PBS' coverage of the Democratic National Convention on Monday, Woodruff referenced a report from Axios and Reuters, which claimed that Trump had encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay peace talks until after the U.S. election, believing that a deal could benefit Democrat Kamala Harris' campaign. In her apology posted on X, Woodruff acknowledged that she had not seen subsequent reports indicating that the Trump campaign and Israeli officials had denied the claims. She clarified that her statements were not based on any original reporting, which raised concerns about the accuracy of her comments. Woodruff expressed regret for the misinformation, stating, “This was a mistake, and I apologize for it.” Her remarks have drawn attention given her long-standing career in journalism, which includes notable positions at CNN and NBC News, as well as her role as the host of PBS' “NewsHour” from 2013 to 2022. The incident highlights the challenges journalists face in ensuring the accuracy of information, especially when discussing sensitive political matters. Woodruff's apology serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying sources and claims before broadcasting them to the public.