'You misquote Trump the most': Pentagon's Pete Hegseth slams Fox News reporter in explosive briefing over Iran strike question

Time of India

4 hours ago

At a
Pentagon press briefing
on Thursday,
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth
launched a public and personal attack on journalist
Jennifer Griffin
, calling her 'about the worst' in the media for her reporting on the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Griffin, Fox News' chief national security correspondent, asked Hegseth if the
Pentagon
had certainty that all the highly enriched uranium was still inside the Fordow facility at the time of the attack. 'Do you have certainty that all the highly enriched uranium was inside the Fordow Mountain?' she asked. 'Are you certain none of that highly enriched uranium was moved?'
Hegseth, visibly annoyed, responded: 'Of course, we're watching every single aspect. But, Jennifer, you've been about the worst. The one who misrepresents the most, intentionally, what the president says.'
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Veteran reporter defends her work
Griffin, a respected journalist with over 25 years at Fox News, stood her ground. She pointed out her early and accurate reporting on the B-2 stealth bombers, their midair refuelling, and the full scope of the military mission. 'So I take issue with that,' she replied.
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The public nature of Hegseth's comments drew swift backlash. Brit Hume, Fox News Channel's chief political analyst, said: 'An attack she certainly in my view did not deserve. Her professionalism, her knowledge, her experience at the Pentagon is unmatched. The attack on her was unfair.'
Former White House official Daniel Koh added, 'If a question shakes him, he can't handle the job.' Others, including MeidasTouch editor Ron Filipkowski, also condemned Hegseth's outburst, calling it an attack on press freedom.
Trump administration rallies around the mission
The clash follows a week of rising tensions over the Pentagon's handling of
Operation Midnight Hunter
, the codename for the strikes on Iran's Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear sites. The Trump administration has claimed 'total obliteration,' with President Trump declaring it 'a historically successful attack.'
At the same press briefing, Hegseth extended his criticism to the broader media, saying, 'You, and I mean specifically you, the press corps… cheer against Trump so hard. It's like in your DNA… because you want him not to be successful, so bad.'
On his Truth Social platform, Trump applauded Hegseth's performance, calling it 'one of the greatest, most professional, and most 'confirming' News Conferences I have ever seen.'
Conflicting reports fuel uncertainty
Despite the confident rhetoric, a leaked preliminary assessment by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) cast doubt on the operation's full impact. The report suggested that Iran's nuclear programme may have only been delayed by a few months, and not completely dismantled.
General Dan Caine, America's top military commander, declined to confirm or deny the success of the mission in definitive terms. 'We do not mark our own homework,' he said.
Instead, he painted a picture of meticulous planning and execution. The Fordow site, he revealed, had been under surveillance for 15 years. 'For more than 15 years, this officer and his teammate lived and breathed this single target,' Caine said. He described how US intelligence tracked everything from geology and construction to air vents and electrical systems.
Caine also showcased footage of Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs—colloquially known as 'bunker busters'—being tested, highlighting their role in the strikes.
Questions over Iran's Uranium remain
Concerns persist over whether Iran had moved its enriched uranium before the strike. Satellite images showed over a dozen trucks at Fordow just two days prior. Rafael Grossi, head of the
International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), said, 'We do not have information on the whereabouts of this material,' referring to nearly 900 pounds of uranium reportedly removed ahead of the bombing.
Preliminary intelligence shared with European allies also suggested that much of Iran's stockpile was located outside the Fordow facility, possibly at undisclosed locations.
Fallout: Intelligence access restricted
In response to the leak of the DIA report, the White House now plans to limit the amount of classified information shared with lawmakers through the CAPNET system.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said, 'There was a leak, and we're trying to get down to the bottom of that. It's dangerous and ridiculous that happened.'
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer criticised the move, saying, 'They seem not to want to see the facts get out. Just Trump's version of the facts, which we know is often false.'
Further analysis on the strike's impact is expected in the coming days. As officials work through the aftermath, the bigger questions remain unanswered: how much uranium Iran still holds, where it is stored, and whether the US strike truly crippled Iran's nuclear ambitions—or simply scattered them further underground.