Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Hegseth accused the press of misrepresenting the facts.
"Maybe the way the Trump administration is represented isn't true. So let's take half truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it," Hegseth said of the media. "Spin it in every way we can to try to cause doubt and manipulate the mind, the public mind, over whether or not our brave pilots were successful."
A map shows nuclear sites in Iran that were struck by the United States during Operation Midnight Hammer. (Fox News)
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Hegseth then chided reporters, alleging "the fake news" of acting irresponsibly with their coverage, saying "classified information is leaked or peddled for political purposes to try to make the president look bad."
"What's really happening is you're undermining the success of incredible B-2 pilots and incredible F-35 pilots and incredible refueling and incredible air defenders who accomplished their mission, set back a nuclear program in ways that other presidents would have dreamed," he said. "How about we celebrate that?"
Hegseth described the Iranian nuclear sites targeted in Operation Midnight Hammer were "destroyed," "defeated," and "obliterated" in what he called "a historically successful attack."
A map shows damage to Iran's Fordow nuclear site after being struck by the United States in Operation Midnight Hammer. (Fox News)
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"We should celebrate it as Americans, and it gives us a chance to have peace, chance to have a deal and an opportunity to prevent a nuclear Iran, which is something President Trump talked about for 20 years," he said. "And no other presidents had the courage to actually do so."
Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-tears-reporters-alleging-cheer-against-trump-iran-strikes