Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a scathing attack on his former Fox News colleague Jennifer Griffin during a Pentagon press conference on Thursday, June 26, 2025, accusing the veteran national security correspondent of being “the worst” at misrepresenting President Donald Trump’s statements about recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The confrontation erupted when Griffin questioned Hegseth about whether the Pentagon had certainty that all highly enriched uranium was inside the Fordow mountain facility when U.S. forces struck it over the weekend. Griffin referenced satellite imagery showing more than a dozen trucks at the site two days before the attack, suggesting material may have been moved prior to the strikes.
Hegseth initially responded that the Pentagon was monitoring all aspects of the situation before pivoting to a personal attack. He told Griffin she had been “about the worst” and “the one who misrepresents the most intentionally” what the President says. Griffin immediately pushed back, defending her reporting accuracy and noting she was the first to describe the B-2 bombers, refueling operations, and mission details with precision.
The exchange highlighted tensions between the Trump administration and media coverage of Operation Midnight Hammer, the Saturday night strike that deployed seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles against three Iranian nuclear sites. The mission marked the first operational use of the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, with 14 dropped on targeted areas.
Hegseth’s criticism came amid administration frustration over leaked intelligence assessments suggesting the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months rather than achieving the “total obliteration” Trump claimed. The Defense Intelligence Agency’s preliminary report, described as having “low confidence” and not coordinated with other intelligence agencies, contradicted the administration’s narrative of complete success.
The defense secretary devoted significant portions of his remarks to attacking media coverage, specifically targeting CNN, The New York Times, and other outlets for what he characterized as biased reporting. He accused news organizations of hoping the strikes would fail due to their opposition to Trump, stating they were cheering against the mission’s effectiveness.
Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, who appeared alongside Hegseth, took a more measured approach during the briefing. When asked whether he had been pressured to provide more optimistic assessments of the attack’s success, Caine stated, “I’ve never been pressured by the president or the secretary to do anything other than tell them exactly what I’m thinking.”
The journalism community rallied to Griffin’s defense following the attack. Fox News analyst Brit Hume immediately defended his colleague on air, stating that Griffin’s professionalism, knowledge, and Pentagon experience were unmatched. He described Hegseth’s attack as unfair and expressed his continued high regard for Griffin’s work.
Support extended beyond Fox News, with reporters from rival organizations defending Griffin’s reputation. CNN’s Hadas Gold described Griffin as well-respected by colleagues, while The Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe called her a professional. The New York Times’ Julian Barnes noted Griffin’s status as one of the most experienced and respected Pentagon reporters in his coverage of the incident.
The confrontation occurred during a press conference called to counter negative coverage of the Iran strikes. Hegseth confirmed that both the Pentagon and FBI were investigating how the classified intelligence assessment reached the media, suggesting the leak was motivated by an agenda to undermine the mission’s perceived success.
The incident reflects broader tensions between the Trump administration and press coverage of foreign policy actions. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously attacked CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand during a briefing, while Trump himself has repeatedly criticized media outlets for their coverage of the Iran strikes on his Truth Social platform.
Griffin’s question about uranium movement remains a key concern for intelligence analysts assessing the strikes’ effectiveness. The UN’s nuclear oversight agency director general, Rafael Grossi, has indicated he believes enriched uranium material was moved from the targeted sites before the attacks occurred, raising questions about the operation’s long-term impact on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
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