Pete Hegseth’s Fiery Rebuke of Media After Iran Strikes Seen as 'Balakot Moment' for Trump Team
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched an explosive attack on the media during a Pentagon briefing on the Iran strikes, accusing outlets of spreading “fake news” and praising the operation as a historic victory—drawing comparisons to the Balakot narrative for the Trump administration
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a blunt attack on journalists at a Pentagon briefing on June 26, accusing major outlets like CNN and the New York Times of twisting a leaked intelligence report that claimed the Iran strikes only delayed the nuclear program by month.
He defended the operation—dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer—as “the most complex and secretive military operation in history,” echoing President Trump’s claim of “total obliteration” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Hegseth dismissed early DIA findings as “low‑confidence” and accused the media of hyping “biased leaks,” urging reporters to “go there, get a shovel” instead of digging into supposed wrongdoing.
Critics responded by questioning his assertion of unmatched complexity, pointing out that operations like D‑Day and the raid on Osama bin Laden were at least as elaborate'
. Online discourse drew parallels between Hegseth’s charges and the Balakot moment meme—where the Trump camp uses aggressive messaging to shape a narrative of decisive military action.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon confirmed the strikes used stealth bombers and bunker‑buster bombs targeting Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—claiming significant damage.
Yet European intelligence sources and Iran’s leadership have cast doubt, suggesting the program may be functioning beneath ground or stockpiled material may have been moved
