Pentagon Accuses Media of Undermining Military Wins and Supporting Propaganda

Pentagon officials are fighting back against what they call a media campaign to undermine U.S. military victories and prop up Iranian propaganda. The heated exchange highlights growing tensions between the Trump administration and mainstream news outlets over coverage of recent successful military operations against Iran.

At a glance:

• Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell accused mainstream media of supporting “Iranian propaganda” to smear President Trump

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blasted journalists for “cheering against Trump” in their coverage of military strikes

• Officials criticized The Washington Post for questioning the success of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

• Hegseth said leaking classified information undermines achievements of U.S. military personnel

Pentagon Officials Blast Media Coverage

The Pentagon is waging a new battle – not against foreign enemies, but against American media outlets they claim are undermining U.S. military successes. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell delivered a blistering critique of news organizations for what he described as a “weaponized smear campaign” against American troops.

The spokesman specifically targeted headlines questioning the effectiveness of recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. “The mainstream media is engaging in a weaponized smear campaign against America & our incredible troops,” Parnell stated.

Parnell highlighted a Washington Post headline that appeared to give credence to Iranian claims that U.S. strikes were less effective than reported. The headline directly contradicted official statements from both Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump that declared the operation a resounding success.

This is such a revealing clip. The American media is full of the least curious, least insightful people in our country.

To recap, an out of context, “low confidence” and incomplete intelligence report was selectively leaked to the media. The media reported on the findings…

— JD Vance (@JDVance) June 25, 2025

Defense Secretary Joins The Fray

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amplified these criticisms during a fiery Pentagon press conference, directly accusing journalists of rooting against America’s commander-in-chief. “You, and I mean specifically you, the press corps, because you cheer against Trump so hard, like in your DNA and in your blood, to cheer against Trump,” Hegseth told assembled reporters.

The Defense Secretary further alleged that media outlets deliberately manipulate incomplete information to create doubt about military operations. “You want him not to be successful so bad, you have to cheer against the efficacy of the strikes,” Hegseth said.

BREAKING: Trump and @PeteHegseth GO OFF on the fake news media insulting our troops

And VP Vance backs them up with a firey tweet! pic.twitter.com/B966B42G4g

— News Nomad (@The_Nomad_News) June 25, 2025

Hegseth emphasized that such reporting damages more than just political reputations. “What’s really happening is you’re undermining the success of incredible B-2 pilots and incredible F-35 pilots and incredible refuelers and incredible air defenders who accomplished their mission,” he said.

The Post Missed the Point

What the Washington Post missed in all this is frankly shocking. The entire report hinged on communications between Iranian officials, but what The Post failed to mention is that Iran appears to have been aware that Israeli intelligence was gathering information from intercepted calls.

What Iranian officials say in their calls, therefore, cannot be trusted; after all, they knew Israel was listening.

Is that sloppy journalism, or what?