Trump and Hegseth Respond aggressively to Leaked Pentagon Report on Iran Strikes

Former President Donald Trump expressed his displeasure over recently leaked Pentagon intelligence indicating that the military strikes against Iran were not as devastating as he had claimed. Both CNN and The New York Times reported on Tuesday about the government’s preliminary findings, which suggested that the strikes partially damaged their targets and only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months. This disclosure coincided with Trump’s attendance at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, where he lashed out at the media, labeling their coverage as ‘disgusting’ and ‘horrible’.

Trump took to his Truth Social platform, launching all-caps critiques against CNN and the Times, demanding that the reporters be dismissed immediately: ‘FAKE NEWS REPORTERS FROM CNN & THE NEW YORK TIMES SHOULD BE FIRED, IMMEDIATELY!!! BAD PEOPLE WITH EVIL INTENTIONS!!!’

In parallel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press briefing with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, where he vehemently condemned the media’s portrayal of the operation. ‘How many stories have been written about how hard it is to fly a plane for 36 hours?’ Hegseth exclaimed, referring to the strike mission, which he characterized as ‘the most complex and secretive military operation in history.’ He urged the press to celebrate America’s military capabilities instead of downplaying the strikes, lamenting, ‘I think it’s too much to ask, unfortunately, for the fake news.’

Hegseth also confrontationally responded to Jennifer Griffin of Fox News when she inquired about the administration’s assurance that Iran had not moved uranium prior to the strikes. He criticized her for misrepresenting Trump’s statements, saying, ‘Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst, the one who misrepresents the most, intentionally, what the president said.’

This chaotic atmosphere at the Pentagon and Trump’s social media tirades reflect an administration-wide campaign aimed at defending the strikes and discrediting the leaked intelligence. Trump is particularly sensitive about reports suggesting that Iran might have moved uranium in anticipation of the strikes, as it could undermine his claims of how ‘perfectly’ the operation was executed. A source familiar with the situation noted that any implications of stockpiles being moved infuriate Trump, especially since he hinted at potential U.S. action which may have alerted Iran.

Amidst the controversy, Trump asserted on Truth Social that ‘nothing was taken out of the facility’ and that the trucks detected in satellite imagery prior to the strikes belonged to ‘concrete workers.’

Key officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, have rallied to Trump’s defense in light of the leaked information, with Hegseth emerging as a prominent voice in the administration’s response.

One adviser to Trump remarked that Hegseth’s comments reminded them of former press secretary Sean Spicer’s notorious assertion regarding Trump’s inaugural crowd size. This adviser noted the exaggerations surrounding the effectiveness of the strikes, pointing out the ongoing efforts to clamp down on leaks. In response to the classified information released to CNN and The New York Times, the administration initiated an aggressive investigation, with heightened warnings to Pentagon personnel about possible repercussions for those involved.

As part of these measures, senior Trump officials have stated they will restrict the flow of classified information to Congress, with White House officials declaring, ‘We are declaring a war on leakers.’ Leavitt confirmed that the FBI is pursuing the source of the unauthorized disclosure, labeling it an ‘illegal leak.’

As the situation unfolds, uncertainty about the operation’s true effectiveness remains. During the press conference, Caine addressed inquiries regarding the damage assessment, but Hegseth interrupted to reiterate his criticism of the media’s ‘irresponsible’ reporting on military operations.

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New York Headlines Staff

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