(PatriotNews.net) – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth exposes CNN and New York Times for deliberately undermining America’s successful military strike against Iran’s nuclear program with politically-motivated leaks designed to damage President Trump.
Key Takeaways
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed CNN and The New York Times for publishing leaked preliminary intelligence to undermine the successful U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Iran’s nuclear program was “severely damaged” and would take years to rebuild, contradicting the initial leaked assessment
- President Trump called for reporters to be fired over “FAKE stories” that downplayed the success of the military operation
- The administration presented video evidence of bunker-buster bomb tests to demonstrate the weapons’ destructive capability against Iran’s facilities
- Hegseth accused media outlets of “cheering against Trump” and deliberately spreading misinformation to manipulate public perception
Media Caught Red-Handed Undermining National Security
In a fiery press conference on June 26, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth exposed what conservatives have long suspected: mainstream media outlets are willing to compromise national security to damage President Trump. Hegseth directly confronted CNN and The New York Times for publishing leaked preliminary intelligence assessments that downplayed the effectiveness of recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Defense Secretary didn’t mince words as he accused these outlets of deliberately misleading the American public about what he described as “the most complex and secretive military operation in history.”
“These media outlets were breathlessly reporting leaked DIA findings because they cheer against Trump so hard — in your DNA and in your blood,” Hegseth declared, calling out the blatant bias that has infected mainstream journalism. The leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) assessment suggested the strikes only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months, a claim Hegseth characterized as a “low confidence assessment” compiled hastily after the operation. This preliminary report was seized upon by left-leaning media eager to portray the Trump administration’s military action as ineffective.
CIA Confirms Devastating Blow to Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
Contrary to the narrative pushed by CNN and The New York Times, CIA Director John Ratcliffe issued a definitive statement confirming that “several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.” This assessment, based on comprehensive intelligence gathered after the initial reports, directly contradicted the leaked preliminary findings that had dominated headlines. The stark difference between these assessments reveals how eager certain media outlets were to run with unconfirmed information that made the administration look bad.
“The leakers aimed to muddy the waters and make it look like this historic strike wasn’t successful,” Hegseth explained, highlighting the political motivation behind the premature release of intelligence. During the press conference, Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine presented compelling video evidence of bunker-buster bomb tests to demonstrate the weapons’ destructive capability. The 30,000-pound bombs used in the operation were specifically designed to penetrate and destroy hardened underground facilities like those housing Iran’s nuclear program.
President Trump Demands Accountability
President Trump took to Truth Social during the press conference to express his outrage at the media’s handling of the situation. He called for CNN and The New York Times to fire reporters responsible for publishing what he called “FAKE stories” about the military operation. The President’s frustration echoed that of millions of Americans who have grown tired of seeing national achievements undermined by a press corps that seems more interested in scoring political points than reporting facts.
“What we witnessed was a resounding success that obliterated Iran’s nuclear capabilities,” Hegseth stated firmly, refusing to allow the media’s narrative to overshadow the reality of what had been accomplished. The operation, which Hegseth revealed was “15 years in the making,” represented a significant victory for American security interests in the Middle East and a major setback for the Iranian regime’s nuclear ambitions. Yet instead of celebrating this achievement, mainstream outlets rushed to publish information that would cast doubt on its effectiveness.
Media’s Anti-Trump Agenda Exposed
The confrontation at the press conference highlighted the ongoing battle between the Trump administration and a media establishment that has abandoned any pretense of objectivity. Hegseth’s accusation that certain outlets publish “half-truths intended to cause doubt and manipulate” public perception struck a chord with conservatives who have long observed this pattern. When national security and military success should unite Americans, these media organizations chose instead to sow division and undermine confidence in the operation.
“The media’s reporting on this operation reveals more about their political agenda than it does about the actual results of our strikes,” said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. “When preliminary assessments are leaked and reported as definitive before complete intelligence can be gathered, it serves only one purpose – to damage this administration regardless of the facts.”
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by conservative administrations dealing with a hostile press. While the strikes successfully set back Iran’s nuclear program by years according to official assessments, Americans were initially fed a narrative designed to minimize this achievement. This pattern of reporting – rushing to publish information harmful to conservative administrations while burying stories that might reflect positively – has become all too familiar to right-leaning voters.
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