Hegseth Slams Media Bias, Hails Trump’s Iran Nuclear Strikes as Historic Win

In a fiery Pentagon press briefing on Thursday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth unleashed a scathing critique of the media, accusing reporters of harboring a deep-seated bias against President Donald Trump and downplaying the success of recent U.S. military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. His words cut through the room like a B-2 bomber on a midnight run, sharp and unrelenting.

Hegseth took direct aim at what he called the press corps’ inherent desire to see Trump fail, claiming it’s practically ‘in their DNA’ to undermine the administration. He pointed to media reports citing a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) preliminary assessment—one with admittedly low confidence—that suggested the strikes on Iran’s key nuclear sites might have only set the program back by months. Hegseth dismissed this as spin, accusing the press of using half-truths and manipulated leaks to sow public doubt about the mission’s effectiveness.

But he didn’t stop there. Hegseth passionately defended the bravery of American pilots and service members involved in Operation Midnight Hammer, which he described as a ‘historically successful attack’ that obliterated critical Iranian nuclear targets. He lambasted the media for failing to celebrate the courage of those who executed the strikes and protected Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Iran’s counterattack. Instead, he argued, reporters peddle classified leaks for political gain, undermining both the president and the military’s achievements.

Wrapping up, Hegseth framed the operation as a bold step toward preventing a nuclear-armed Iran—a goal he said Trump has championed for decades while other leaders lacked the guts to act. He urged Americans to celebrate this as a victory, a chance for peace, and a potential opening for a deal. Whether the press will join in that celebration, though, seems about as likely as a snowball surviving in the desert of Qatar.