Hegseth Defends Trump’s Iran Strike, Blasts Media for “Cheering Against” Success

Washington DC — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched into a scathing rebuke of the press on Wednesday during a Pentagon briefing, accusing major news outlets of undermining what he described as a “historic and highly successful” U.S. military operation against Iran’s nuclear program.

Fresh off a return from the NATO summit, Hegseth opened the briefing by praising President Trump’s diplomatic breakthrough in securing a pledge from all 32 NATO countries to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP. He called the agreement “game-changing” and historic, claiming it fulfilled a promise Trump made during his first term.

“The press missed this moment entirely,” Hegseth said. “Other presidents tried. President Trump got it done.”

But the bulk of his remarks focused on defending Operation Midnight Hammer—the recent U.S. and Israeli airstrike campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. Hegseth framed the mission as one of the most complex in modern history, crediting it with bringing about a ceasefire in the 12-day conflict with Iran and dramatically degrading Tehran’s nuclear capabilities.

“President Trump directed the most secretive and complex military operation in history,” Hegseth declared. “Decimating, obliterating, destroying Iran’s nuclear program. Choose your word.”

Targeting the Press

Hegseth’s tone quickly turned confrontational as he blasted media coverage of the operation, accusing outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times of focusing on a leaked preliminary assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) that characterized the damage as “limited.”

“The press corps is so desperate to find a scandal or diminish Trump’s success that they’re ignoring the truth,” Hegseth said. “This report was a low-confidence, early draft that explicitly states it’s based on incomplete data. And yet, it’s been breathlessly reported as fact.”

Hegseth then read from multiple assessments, including statements from the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, the UN’s nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi, and the CIA, all pointing to significant damage inflicted on Iran’s enrichment capabilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed “severe damage” had been done, and said intelligence indicated Iran would need “years” to rebuild. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard posted on X that “Iran’s nuclear facilities have been destroyed.”

Military Perspective

Standing beside Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine maintained a more measured tone, stating the strike had gone precisely according to plan. He said a full damage assessment was the role of U.S. intelligence, not the military.

“We don’t grade our own homework,” Gen. Caine said, though he acknowledged the mission’s complexity and credited the skill of the pilots and personnel involved in executing the 36-hour operation using B-2 Stealth Bombers and other advanced aircraft.

Leaks and Politics

Hegseth also condemned what he called the “political leaking” of classified intelligence aimed at sowing doubt about the strike’s success.

“Time and time again, information is leaked to hurt the president politically,” Hegseth said. “But what it really does is undermine the extraordinary work of our men and women in uniform.”

He challenged reporters in the room to spend more time explaining the logistics of the operation and the sacrifices of U.S. service members rather than questioning its effectiveness.

“How many stories have been written about what it takes to fly a B-2 for 36 hours? Or refuel midair? Or operate a Patriot battery? You don’t write those stories—because the operation succeeded under President Trump.”

Strategic Fallout

While administration officials continue to frame the strike as a turning point in both regional stability and nuclear non-proliferation, analysts say it’s too soon to tell what the long-term consequences will be. Iran has not issued a formal response but acknowledged “serious damage” to its nuclear infrastructure.

As President Trump touts the mission as a centerpiece of his second-term foreign policy legacy, questions remain about the possibility of retaliation, future diplomacy with Iran, and the credibility of intelligence assessments that diverge from political messaging.