Hegseth defends ‘our boys' remark, slams reporter over B-2 bomber pilot question
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth engaged in a heated exchange with reporters during a fiery press conference following the US military's successful bombing campaign on Iran's nuclear facilities. The operation, which involved six 15-ton 'bunker buster' bombs dropped by B-2 bombers, was hailed as a success by Hegseth, who praised both the mission and President Donald Trump.However, it wasn't long before Hegseth found himself on the defensive over the gendered language he used in earlier remarks.advertisementDuring the Sunday morning briefing, Hegseth referred to the B-2 pilots as 'our boys on those bombers,' a phrase that quickly caught the attention of The New York Times. In a live blog covering the event, the paper noted:
'In the briefing, Hegseth referred to B-2 pilots as 'our boys on those bombers,' yet both men and women have been trained to fly them.'The tension escalated when an unidentified female reporter pressed Hegseth directly: 'Why didn't you acknowledge the female pilots that also participated in this mission? The early messages that you sent out only congratulated the boys.'Hegseth responded sharply: 'So when I say something like our boys and bombers — see, this is the kind of thing the press does, right?' he said.'Of course, the chairman mentioned a female bomber pilot. That's fantastic. She's fantastic, she's a hero. I want more female bomber pilots. I hope the men and women of our country sign up to do such brave and audacious things.'Reporter: Why not acknowledge the female pilots? The early messages you sent out only congratulated the boys. pic.twitter.com/gxvagNbB31— Acyn (@Acyn) June 26, 2025advertisementHe continued, doubling down on his stance: 'But when you spin it as, because I say our boys and bombers as a common phrase, I'll keep saying things like that, whether they're men or women. Very proud of that female pilot, just like I'm very proud of those male pilots and I don't care if it's a male or a female in that cockpit and the American people don't care.But it's the obsession with race and gender in this department that's changed priorities, and we don't do that anymore. We don't play your little games.'Earlier in the same presser, Hegseth also lashed out at his former Fox News colleague Jennifer Griffin, accusing her of being 'one of the worst' when it came to giving Trump credit for the strike.- EndsMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran says no plan for new US nuclear talks, plays down impact of strikes
Iran on Thursday denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States after the end of a 12-day war with Israel, and accused Washington of exaggerating the impact of US strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP) The most serious conflict yet between Israel and Iran derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, yet President Donald Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope "for a comprehensive peace agreement". But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shut down what he said was "speculation" that Tehran would come to the table and said it "should not be taken seriously". "I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations," he said on state television. "No plan has been set yet to start negotiations." Araghchi's denial came as Iranian lawmakers passed a "binding" bill suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Trump of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. In a televised speech -- his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel -- Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran's "victory" over Israel, vowed never to yield to US pressure and insisted Washington had been dealt a humiliating "slap". "The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration," Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. The strikes, he insisted, had done "nothing significant" to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Araghchi, for his part, called the damage "serious" and said a detailed assessment was under way. Trump said key facilities, including the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, had been "obliterated" by American B-2 bombers. Posting on his Truth Social platform, he dismissed speculation Iran might have removed enriched uranium prior to the raid, saying: "Nothing was taken out... too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!" He added that satellite images showed trucks at the site only because Iranian crews were attempting to shield the facility with concrete. Khamenei dismissed such claims, saying "the Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America". Both sides have claimed victory: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "historic win", while Khamenei said Iran's missile retaliation had brought Israel to the brink of collapse. US defence In Washington, the true impact of the strikes has sparked sharp political and intelligence debates. A leaked classified assessment suggested the damage to Iran's nuclear programme may be less severe than initially claimed -- possibly delaying progress by only a few months. That contrasts with statements from senior US officials. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said several facilities would need to be "rebuilt over the course of years". Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting the operation. He said the United States used massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Fordo and another underground site, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles targeted a third facility. "President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating -- choose your word -- obliterating, destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities," Hegseth said. Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed some 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds) of enriched uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes -- potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country. Netanyahu says Iran 'thwarted' Following waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since mid-June -- the deadliest between the two countries to date -- the US bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities. Initial intelligence reports, first revealed by CNN, suggested the strikes did not destroy critical components and delayed Iran's nuclear programme only by months. Experts questioned if Iran had pre-emptively moved enriched uranium to protect it. The US administration has forcefully rejected such suggestions. The Israeli military said Iran's nuclear sites had taken a "significant" blow, but cautioned it was "still early" to fully assess the damage. Netanyahu said Israel had "thwarted Iran's nuclear project", warning any attempt by Iran to rebuild it would be met with the same determination and intensity. Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its "legitimate rights" to the peaceful use of atomic energy. It has also said it is willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington. The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Not Iran, The Real Threat Is Pakistan… Tensions Rise After US Report, How India's Warning Is Proving True
New Delhi: The maps in Washington have shifted focus. The chatter inside intelligence rooms is not about Tehran anymore. It is Rawalpindi. A fresh report from U.S. intelligence agencies has triggered serious alarm. Hidden under radar, Pakistan is reportedly building an intercontinental ballistic missile. It is said to be nuke-tipped that could reach mainland America. Until now, Iran had held the spotlight. But this new revelation has brought Pakistan's nuclear ambitions straight into global crosshairs. For India, it is vindication. For the United States, a potential crisis. For the region, a ticking clock. A report quoting U.S. sources claims that Pakistan's new missile has crossed theory stage. It is being developed quietly – away from public eyes. It is capable of traveling over 5,500 kilometers. That is ICBM territory. A range wide enough to strike far beyond Delhi. All the way to Washington. The report was published in Foreign Affairs – an American magazine. It says the missile project picked up speed after India's Operation Sindoor rattled Pakistan's military brass. With Chinese help, Pakistan is now said to be acquiring the components and know-how needed to leapfrog its existing arsenal. What This Means for America Washington is watching closely. Senior officials say that if Pakistan achieves the ICBM capability, it will be reclassified as a nuclear threat like North Korea, China and Russia. There will be no middle ground. The United States has already imposed sanctions. Last year, it froze assets and blocked trade with Pakistan's National Development Complex and its key missile contractors. That was not random. It came after evidence emerged of Islamabad sourcing sensitive tech from foreign markets. For years, Pakistan insisted its nuclear weapons were for deterrence against India. Nothing more. No ICBMs. No aggression. Just defense. But this new intelligence contradicts that script. With Shahin-III already reaching over 2,700 km, experts believe Pakistan is preparing to extend its reach far beyond South Asia. And there is a motive. If Pakistan owns a missile that can hit the United States, it will change the rules. It will act as a shield. It will limit U.S. involvement in any future India-Pakistan conflict. That is the strategy. Quietly but clearly. Why India Is Saying 'We Told You So' New Delhi has long raised concerns. That Pakistan cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. That its command chain is fragile. That terror groups work hand in glove with rogue military elements. After recent air strikes inside Pakistan, India also neutralised nine terror camps and targeted 11 airbases. Pakistan reportedly fired a Fateh-II hypersonic missile. India shot it down. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other top Indian leaders have called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor Pakistan's nuclear stockpiles. The concern is not hypothetical. It is urgent. One weapon in the wrong hands could mean catastrophe. While the world debated strikes on Iran, Pakistan was quietly reshaping its arsenal. The fear is not merely the missile. It is what surrounds it – terror cells, sleeper agents and political instability. If these missiles fall into the wrong hands, no country is out of reach. No continent immune. According to global estimates, Pakistan currently has around 170 nuclear warheads. It is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It also has a history of proliferation. That is what makes the new report even more chilling. The ICBM threat from Pakistan is no longer whispers. It is a documented risk. A weapon in the making. America now faces a choice. Ignore and risk a future crisis. Or act. India, meanwhile, continues to say the same thing - Pakistan's nukes are not only a South Asia's problem. It could soon become the world's.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
US to hold QUAD Foreign Ministers meeting on July 1: State Department
By Reena Bhardwaj Washington DC [US], June 27 (ANI): Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host the Foreign Ministers from the QUAD countries on July 1 in Washington DC for the QUAD Foreign Ministers Meeting, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for US Department of State Tommy Pigott announced on Thursday (US local time). Making the remarks during a press briefing, Pigott said, 'Next week, Secretary Rubio will host foreign Ministers from Australia, India and Japan for the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting on July 1 in Washington, DC. The secretary's first diplomatic engagement was with the Quad, and next week's summit builds on that momentum to advance a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. This is what American leadership looks like: strength, peace and prosperity'. Dhruva Jaishankar at ORF Washington DC, spoke to ANI about the expectations and impressions on the American priorities for the QUAD Summit. 'US relations with its Quad partners have been complicated of late, given differences with Japan over defense spending, Australia over AUKUS, and India over Pakistan. For these reasons, even maintaining the Quad agenda going forward is difficult, despite the US concentrating the groups's focus on security, prosperity, tech, and homeland security,' he said. The developments follow after, earlier on June 18, when US President Donald Trump accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to attend the QUAD Summit, which will take place in New Delhi later this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had previously informed. The telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump took place on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. 'For the next meeting of QUAD, PM Modi invited President Trump to India. While accepting the invitation, President Trump said that he is excited to come to India', Misri had said in a video message. The QUAD is a diplomatic partnership between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. The QUAD's origins date back to our collaboration in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Earlier in January, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on his first day in office, hosted the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan for a significant meeting of the QUAD alliance. 'On day one as Secretary of State, I hosted the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan for an important meeting of the Quad. We are committed to strengthening economic opportunity and peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region,' Rubio posted on X. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held the meeting with his Quad counterparts--External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Japan's Takeshi Iwaya, and Australia's Penny Wong--at the US Department of State. In a joint statement, the Foreign ministers of QUAD countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific where 'sovereignty and territorial integrity are upheld and defended.' The Quad nations also expressed strong opposition 'to any unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo through force or coercion.' (ANI)
