“Anyone with Two Eyes, Two Ears, and a Brain Could See the Damage”: Defense Secretary Hegseth Blasts Media Over Iran Bombing Coverage

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at reporters during a heated press briefing following questions about the recent U.S. bombing of an Iranian nuclear facility. The tension flared after a journalist attempted a follow-up regarding the effectiveness of the strike.

“I mean, what changed in the past three days that makes you—” the reporter began, before being cut off by a visibly irritated Hegseth. “I think I explained what changed,” Hegseth shot back. “There was a great deal of irresponsible reporting based on leaks, preliminary information in low confidence.”

Hegseth went on to accuse the media of twisting intelligence to fit a narrative. “Again, when someone leaks something, they do it with an agenda,” he said. “And when you leak a portion of an intelligence assessment, but just a little portion, just a little portion that makes it seem like maybe the strike wasn’t effective, then you start a news cycle—whether it’s the Washington Post or Fox News or CNN or MSNBC—that starts to call into question the efficacy.”

The defense secretary continued to rail against what he characterized as misleading or incomplete reporting, claiming it undermined both the military’s efforts and public confidence. “You just watched a video of what this weapon is capable of. That’s where we find our confidence and the skill of men and women and the capability of the systems,” he insisted.

When the same reporter attempted to interject with a follow-up, Hegseth cut him off again, saying, “See this is a point—” before pausing and changing course. “This is how difficult it is to actually manage [the media],” he added with clear frustration.

Doubling down, Hegseth declared, “Anyone with two eyes, two ears, and a brain could see the damage that’s been done,” referencing the Pentagon-released footage that allegedly shows the extent of destruction caused by the strike.

The unusually fiery exchange underscores rising tensions between the Department of Defense and the press, especially in light of controversial military actions and the role of leaks in shaping public opinion. While Hegseth made no apologies for the strike itself, his remarks pointed to a growing frustration with how the narrative around national security is reported—and who controls it.

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