Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox & Friends Weekend co-host, publicly criticized his former colleague Jennifer Griffin, calling her “about the worst” during a Thursday morning press briefing, taking issue with her reporting and line of questioning on the administration’s recent strikes against Iran.
His remarks, which also lambasted the media and numerous outlets, have sparked backlash from critics and journalists.
Why It Matters
The exchange comes days after the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear sites, Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz. The Trump administration has lauded the military mission, in which B-2 stealth bombers used bunker bombs on Fordow, which is deep underground inside a mountain.
Trump has said that the strikes resulted in “total obliteration” of the facility, although the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) preliminary report suggests damage and not complete destruction. The DIA is part of the Pentagon, which Hegseth oversees.
Hegseth’s rebuke of Griffin comes as members of the Trump administration increasingly use personal attacks in response to dissenting views or media coverage. During the briefing, Hegseth criticized the press for its reporting on the leaked initial damage assessment that cast doubt on the totality of the strikes, echoing sentiments expressed by the president on his social media platform.
What To Know
On Thursday, during the question and answer portion of the briefing, Griffin, Fox News’ chief national security correspondent, asked Hegseth, “Do you have certainty that all the highly enriched uranium was inside the Fordow mountain, or some of it, because there were satellite photos that showed more than a dozen trucks there two days in advance—are you certain that none of the highly enriched uranium was moved?”
Uranium enrichment increases the concentration of uranium-235, the isotope necessary to sustain a nuclear chain reaction used in both power generation and nuclear weapons. The process is central to weapons development, which the U.S. and Israel accuse Iran of pursuing, though Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for energy purposes.
The comment comes after the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said, “We do not have information on the whereabouts of this material” in reference to 900 pounds of potentially enriched uranium that Iranian officials said had been removed ahead of the strikes. Grossi said the comments on Fox News The Story with Martha MacCallum on Tuesday.
Hegseth responded to Griffin first stating, “of course we are watching ever single aspect,” and then took a jab at the veteran journalist, saying, “Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst. The one who misrepresents the most intentionally.”
Griffin, who appeared shocked, responded by pointing out her reporting on the B-2s and the mission as a whole, adding, “So, I take issue with that.”
Many have called out Hegseth’s response to Griffin and noted her storied journalist background, with another former Fox colleague Brit Hume saying it was an undeserved “attack.” Newsweek reached out to Fox New’s press team for comment via email on Thursday, and they directed Newsweek to Hume’s comments on the matter.
During the press briefing, he accused the media of twisting “half-truths” due to what he described as a deep-seated desire to “cheer against Trump so hard,” telling the press room it’s “in your DNA” to root against the president.
Trump applauded the press conference, writing on Truth Social, “One of the greatest, most professional, and most ‘confirming’ News Conferences I have ever seen. The Fake News should fire everyone involved in this Witch Hunt, and apologize to our great warriors, and everyone else!”
What People Are Saying
Brit Hume, Fox News Channel’s chief political analyst, said on Thursday: “I’d like to say a word if I may, Dana, about Jennifer Griffin, who was attacked by the Defense Secretary today. An attack she certainly in my view did not deserve. Her professionalism, her knowledge, her experience at the Pentagon is unmatched. I have had and still have the greatest regard for her. The attack on her was unfair.”
Ron Filipkowski, the editor-in-chief of the left leaning and Trump-critical MeidasTouch, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Hegseth even attacks the Fox correspondent. This whole thing is just attacking the media.”
Daniel Koh, former deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House office of intergovernmental affairs, wrote in an X post on Thursday: “What an embarrassment for our country. @JenGriffinFNC— well-respected across the aisle — asked a fair question re: actions in Iran. She handled @PeteHegseth’s absurd response with far more professionalism than he showed her. If a question shakes him, he can’t handle the job.”
Brian Krassenstein, who has over 900,000 followers on X, wrote: “Fox News Reporter Jennifer Griffin just asked an incredibly important question and Hegseth completely loses it, going off on her…America is better than this!”
Republicans Against Trump wrote on X: “What a jerk.”
What Happens Next
More detailed intelligence on the impact of the strikes is expected to be released in the coming days, as officials assess the extent of the damage.
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