Defense Secretary and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth held an off-the-rails press conference on Iran during which he spent most of the time insulting members of the press for what he claimed was inaccurate and irresponsible reporting.
In one exchange, he told the well-respected chief national security correspondent at the Pentagon for Fox News, Jennifer Griffin (his former colleague), that she’s “been about the worst” as “one who misrepresents the most intentionally.”
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Griffin stood up for herself in the heated exchange.
Jennifer Griffin: Are you certain none of that highly enriched uranium was moved?
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025
Hegseth: Jennifer, you've been about the worst.
Griffin: I was the first to describe the b-2 bombers, the refueling, the entire mission with great accuracy. So I, I take issue with that. pic.twitter.com/VPFUYX9YfY
The briefing was filled with moments like this one. Hegseth treated every question as an accusation and was irate, defensive, and condescending as journalists inquired about the success of the president’s
Many mocked him for his hyperbole, his insults, his pandering praise to the president, and also for being the exact kind of emotional for which sexist people criticize women leaders.
Hegseth: How many stories have been written about how hard it is—I don’t know—to fly a plane for 36 hours. Has MSNBC done that story? Has FOX? Have WE done the story?
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025
It’s irresponsible pic.twitter.com/gNe1lC2MUT
Hegseth: Because you— the press—cheer against Trump so hard. It's like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad. You have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes. You have to hope maybe they weren't effective…… pic.twitter.com/zrDRynsPXJ
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025
instead of doing critical coverage, Hegseth urges reporters to "Wave an American flag. Be proud of what we accomplished." pic.twitter.com/nI4mSOpKCk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 26, 2025
Reporter: Why not acknowledge the female pilots? The early messages you sent out only congratulated the boys. pic.twitter.com/gxvagNbB31
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025
Reporter: Why not acknowledge the female pilots? The early messages you sent out only congratulated the boys. pic.twitter.com/gxvagNbB31
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025
Hegseth: What's really happening is you're undermining the success of incredible b-2 pilots and incredible f-35 pilots and incredible refuelers and incredible air defenders who accomplished their mission. How about we talk about how special America is? pic.twitter.com/36xVGYwZCr
— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025