WASHINGTON – The Department of War forcefully denied a viral report from an obscure news outlet alleging a feud between Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over deploying U.S. troops to Iran, labeling the story as "complete and total 100% fake news" from a pro-Iran outlet.
This is complete and total 100% FAKE NEWS written by a left-wing, pro-Iran outlet. https://t.co/9YIH2tQGgI
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellUSA) March 5, 2026
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell issued the denial on X, blasting the London-based Middle East Eye as a "left-wing, pro-Iran outlet" that spreads misinformation. The report, published Wednesday, claimed Hegseth and Rubio were "at each other's throats" over ground troop involvement in the ongoing conflict with Iran, citing anonymous officials who suggested the U.S. was considering Special Operations deployments.
Parnell's dismissal of Middle East Eye’s narrative comes as the Trump administration faces a barrage of debunked stories aimed at undermining the Department of War amid Operation Epic Fury. These tensions were obvious during the first Pentagon press briefing in three months that occurred at the start of the week.
READ MORE: Pentagon's First Press Briefing in Three Months Is a Tale of Triumph and Toll
A widely circulated claim accused White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles of a security breach for wearing an Apple Watch in the secure Situation Room during Iran strike briefings. Photos from Mar-a-Lago sparked outrage from members of the old Pentagon press corps who alleged the device violated classified protocols. The device, a WHOOP fitness tracker, actually has NSA approval because it lacks communication features, making the panic from the legacy news more misinformation.
Other unfounded attacks of late include reports alleging Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine opposed strikes on Iran. President Trump rejected this as "fake news media" distortions, insisting Caine never voiced opposition.
Parnell's rebuke of Middle East Eye highlighted other questionable articles on the site, including one where they platformed a wild Iranian accusation that Israel is responsible for drone strikes on Gulf energy sites. That piece, relying heavily on regime sources without independent verification, echoed Tehran's narratives blaming Israel for regional instability.
ALSO SEE: Trump's Drone Revolution Leads to Debut of Reverse-Engineered Iranian Kamikaze Drones
As the conflict intensifies, the Department of War urges vigilance against disinformation, with Parnell warning that outlets like Middle East Eye serve adversarial interests. This surge in fake news, administration officials say, aims to erode public support for decisive action against threats amid the success of Epic Fury. With global tensions high, more propaganda is expected to float around the news cycle, both from enemies abroad and critics at home.
Editor's Note: For decades, former presidents have been all talk and no action. Now, Donald Trump is eliminating the threat from Iran once and for all.
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