Hegseth Takes Only Conservative Outlet Questions at First Presser in 6 Months

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stepped up to the Pentagon podium Tuesday for his first press conference in six months — and took questions from exactly one kind of outlet. The call list was OAN, Real America's Voice, The Daily Wire, The Daily Signal, Fox News and The Washington Times. New York Times correspondent Helene Cooper and Washington Post reporter Tara Copp sat in the room but never got the microphone.

The questions weren't all soft. Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson asked whether Hegseth agreed with Vice President JD Vance that the Iran war was a major reason Republicans lost the midterm elections. Hegseth dodged: he said he respects the vice president greatly and won't trade finger-pointing, adding that politics isn't really his thing. He defended the war as a necessary military operation meant to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Real America's Voice reporter David Zere went friendlier, asking what message it sends to allies when American politicians criticize military operations aimed at suspected drug traffickers. Hegseth welcomed that one and made his case for the administration's campaign against cartels.

Before Hegseth reached the podium, a security agent warned journalists they could be physically removed if they didn't keep decorum, according to The Washington Post. Reporters asked whether shouting questions could get them tossed — no answer came. Hegseth political staffer Joel Valdez then offered to explain the rules only off the record, the Post reported; when reporters pushed back, he walked away. Nobody was removed. Daily Wire correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan, one of the reporters Hegseth did call on, gave a different read on X, saying officials clarified that aggressive questioning alone wouldn't trigger removal. Mediaite reported that when a female reporter shouted, 'Mr. Secretary, are Iran war losses your fault?' as Hegseth started taking questions, he raised a hand, said 'Excuse me,' and cut her off.

The briefing landed a day after outgoing Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced eight articles of impeachment accusing Hegseth of constitutional violations and abuses of power. Hegseth brushed it off as a political stunt and said his critics are attacking lawful military operations. President Donald Trump publicly backed him and praised his performance after the briefing.

The Pentagon's fight with the press is already in court. Dozens of news organizations handed back their Pentagon credentials last year rather than accept new limits on gathering information, and The New York Times separately sued over the department's press policies. As TheWrap previously reported, the Pentagon piled on more restrictions in March after a federal judge ruled its earlier policy unconstitutional — closing the longstanding press workspace and requiring escorts inside the building. A judge struck those revised rules down in April.