Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a fierce verbal attack against Jennifer Griffin, a veteran Pentagon reporter and his former coworker at Fox News, during a press briefing Thursday morning. The clash came amid the administration’s effort to discredit news organizations that published leaked intelligence suggesting the recent American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities may have done less damage than claimed.
During the tense exchange, Griffin challenged Hegseth directly, asking, “Do you have certainty that all the highly enriched uranium was inside the Fordo mountain?”
Griffin pointed to satellite photos she said revealed “more than a dozen trucks” arriving at the location “a few days in advance,” implying possible foreknowledge of the strikes and complicating the Pentagon’s narrative.
“Of course we’re watching it,” Hegseth replied before launching into a sharp rebuke of the reporter. “Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst. The one who misrepresents the most intentionally.”
Griffin, clearly taken aback, straightened in her chair and responded with force.
“In fact, I was the first to describe the B-2 bombers, the refueling, the entire mission with great accuracy,” she said. “So I take issue with that.”
“I appreciate that,” Hegseth replied, appearing to walk back his criticism slightly.
The clash underscored mounting tensions between the administration and the media, as Hegseth chastised reporters for what he described as misplaced priorities. He argued they should highlight the complexity and risk of the mission rather than spotlighting leaked intelligence suggesting the destruction of Iranian nuclear assets may have been overstated.
President Trump and senior officials have rejected what they call premature intelligence leaks published by CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. In response, the president and his allies have ramped up criticism of journalists who covered the story.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reinforced the administration’s stance earlier this week, telling reporters the person responsible for leaking the classified assessments “should be in jail.”
Griffin, a respected figure in defense reporting, has long been recognized for her work on military and international issues. Earlier this year, she broke a story alleging that Hegseth had shared “classified” information with Trump Cabinet members via a Signal chat group—a move that, according to her sources, “put the joint force directly and immediately at risk.”

{Matzav.com}