Texas: Reporter defies orders, covers counter protesters thanking Trump after Iran strikes

An anti-Iranian regime protestor holds a placard bearing images depicting the son of Iran’s Last Shah and now key opposition figure, Reza Pahlavi and US President, Donald Trump as protestors gather in front of the Iranian Embassy in Athens on March 1, 2026, during a protest in support of the US and Israel attack on Iran and the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.

A local reporter for CBS Austin in Texas has gone viral for seemingly defying orders to not cover a protest in support of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

In a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday at the state capitol, posted to CBS Austin’s Facebook page, Vinny Martorano

  was seen in front of a crowd that could later be heard shouting, “Thank you Trump,” and “Thank you Bibi,” when an off-camera person hands the reporter a phone.

 After reading the message, Martorano asks, “What does that mean?”

“It means they don’t want us to focus on this,” a voice off-camera can be heard replying.

 “All right,” Martorano said, looking around and a moment later decidedly adding, “Well I am.”

Martorano had originally been sent to cover a protest of the U.S. strike against Iran, calling for peace in the Middle East, according to the International Business Times (IBT). At the time of the exchange Martorano was setting up to report on the counterprotest in support of President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran.

 

The outlet also claimed that Martorano’s actual report was straightforward, with the protests being framed as the divided response to the strikes.

Martorano posted two videos to his X account on Saturday, one showing those protesting against the attack, and the other of those in support of the strikes.

A clip of the exchange has gone viral online with multiple media outlets reporting on it, including The Times of India, which showcases the widespread fame of the interaction.

Framed online and by media outlets as an act of “defiance,” Martorano’s choice to cover the group celebrating the attack on Iran despite apparent orders to the contrary seems to be an example of balanced reporting.

 

“He showed both sides. He added context. His package was, by any reasonable measure, balanced,” IBT reported.

CBS Austin (KEYE) is a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group, according to the station.

Neither Martorano nor CBS Austin have released public comments regrading the exchange.