The White House slammed CNN on Thursday, criticizing a story by the news network that said President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE’s signing of red “Make America Great Again” hats for troops in Iraq may have violated Defense Department rules.

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders characterized the story as an attack by CNN on U.S. troops.

“CNN will attack anyone who supports President Trump, including the brave men and women of our military who fight everyday to protect our freedom,” Sanders tweeted in response.

CNN will attack anyone who supports President Trump, including the brave men and women of our military who fight everyday to protect our freedom https://t.co/x6VjuUJFdF — Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) December 27, 2018

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In its story, CNN suggested that Trump's signing of the caps may have violated rules that state “active duty personnel may not engage in partisan political activities." The rules also state that "all military personnel should avoid the inference that their political activities imply or appear to imply [Department of Defense] sponsorship, approval, or endorsement of a political candidate, campaign, or cause.”

Retired Rear Adm. John Kirby, a CNN analyst who served in the Obama administration, said the text on the hats constituted a campaign slogan.

“Every time he's around military audiences, he tends to politicize it, and he brings in complaints and grievances from outside the realm of military policy,” Kirby said.

Trump met with troops in Iraq and Germany during a surprise trip.

The White House and CNN are known to have an acrimonious relationship, with the president frequently ripping the network as “fake news.”