Hegseth defends Trump Iran strikes, demands media ‘get it right’

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praises Operation Epic Fury's success in neutralizing Iran's military capabilities, highlighting more than 10,000 enemy targets destroyed, 150 naval vessels sunk and the defense industrial base shattered. War Secretary Pete Hegseth defended U.S. military operations targeting Iran during a Cabinet meeting Thursday, praising the campaign as swift and decisive while criticizing media coverage of the conflict. Hegseth took aim at the press early in his remarks, urging reporters to accurately portray the war effort. "You wouldn’t know it if you listened to the dishonest, anti-Trump media," Hegseth said. "These cameras… they have a choice. You’re either informing the American people of the truth or you’re not… My message to the media is: get it right." Hegseth framed the operation as a historic success, crediting President Don