In a fiery Pentagon briefing on Thursday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused members of the press of actively rooting against President Donald Trump—and, by extension, America’s military success—following the recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“You, the press, cheer against Trump so hard, it’s in your DNA,” Hegseth charged. “You don’t want him to succeed, so you undermine the truth. You spin leaked or partial information to create doubt, not just about the administration, but about the mission itself.”
Hegseth argued that media coverage has focused more on skepticism than substance, casting shadows over what he described as a historic success in delaying Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He emphasized that little attention has been given to the extraordinary challenges U.S. forces faced in executing the mission or defending Al-Udeid Air Base during Iran’s retaliatory strike.
“How many stories have been written about flying a B-2 bomber for 36 hours straight?” he asked. “Do Americans understand what it takes to refuel in midair, to precisely coordinate stealth fighters, to defend a base with just 44 troops on the ground?”
The Defense Secretary praised the skill and discipline of U.S. servicemembers, stating the strikes achieved a setback to Iran’s nuclear program “other presidents would have dreamed of.”
While media outlets continue to report uncertainty about the full extent of the damage, Hegseth and top military officials maintain that the operation was a clear strategic victory. The Pentagon is expected to provide a classified briefing to Congress later this week. At the same time, President Trump continues to tout both the military strike and a sweeping domestic policy bill as twin victories of American strength under his leadership.
