Defense Secretary Hegseth Slams CNN, NYT Over Iran Strike Coverage

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accused CNN and The New York Times of deliberately framing coverage of the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in a way that undermines President Donald Trump. In several interviews and public remarks, Hegseth said the two outlets “instinctively” look for angles that “hurt President Trump or our country,” arguing that the press is disregarding the views of service members and the strategic objectives of the mission. Hegseth’s criticism follows leaks of a classified U.S. intelligence report on the operation—code-named “Midnight Hammer”—which targeted Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. While the report’s contents have not been officially released, the secretary maintained that the strikes were successful and aligned with U.S. security goals. He contended that mainstream media coverage has focused less on operational outcomes and more on political ramifications, a posture he described as evidence of “Trump derangement” within the press. The White House amplified Hegseth’s message, distributing a video in which the secretary highlighted military service and what he called a revival of the “American warrior spirit” under President Trump. CNN and The New York Times did not feature in the administration’s statements, and neither outlet’s public response to Hegseth’s complaints was included in the material provided.