Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth openly criticized Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin, calling her "about the worst" when it comes to coverage of the Pentagon and their recent mission in taking out Iran's nuclear program.
The tense exchange took place during a press conference, in which Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, joined Hegseth to brief reporters on the success of the airstrikes against Iran.
Hegseth, who had absolutely excoriated the media early on in the presser, now took a shot at Griffin.
The Fox News reporter asked the Defense Secretary how he could be sure "that all the highly enriched uranium was in the Fordow mountain" when the bombing took place, noting satellite imagery purportedly showing trucks moving out before the onslaught.
"Are you certain none of that highly enriched uranium was moved?” she asked.
Hegseth was not in the mood.
Defense Secretary Hegseth just ended FOX News Jennifer Griffin’s career:
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) June 26, 2025
“Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst.”
Obliterated!pic.twitter.com/ng3CKXqXPL
Jennifer Griffin's Bias Against Pete Hegseth Is Reaching Parodic Levels
“Of course, we’re watching every single aspect, but Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst, the one who misrepresents the most intentionally what the president says," Hegseth fired back.
Griffin, who, as noted on these very pages, has a clear bias against the Defense Secretary, was taken aback and took issue with the characterization.
“I was the first to describe the B-2 bombers, the refueling, the entire mission, with great accuracy. So I take issue with that," she countered.
"I appreciate you acknowledging ... the most successful mission based on operational security that this department has done since you've been here," Hegseth said, seemingly pulling back a bit. "And I appreciate that."
Griffin has provided details about the mission carried out by military heroes, though she also offered a snide commentary when Hegseth dared refer to the pilots as "our boys."
Defense Secretary Hegseth: "We were able to destroy nuclear capabilities. And OUR BOYS in those bombers are on their way home right now."
— Jennifer Griffin (@JenGriffinFNC) June 22, 2025
Fox News has learned that at least one of the B2 pilots who took part in the Iran mission was female.@FoxNews
Earlier in the press conference, Hegseth criticized the media for releasing leaked classified data to the public and creating a false narrative that the mission was less successful than had been claimed.
But he also took a shot at them for not highlighting the men and women who carried out a dangerous 36-hour flight through enemy territory. He lumped Fox News into that group as well.
"How many stories have been written about how hard it is to, I don't know, fly a plane for 36 hours? Has MSNBC done that story? Has Fox?" the Defense Secretary asked. "Have we done the story, how hard that is?"
"There are so many aspects of what our brave men and women did that because of the hatred of this press corps are undermined because people are trying to leak and spin that it wasn't successful. It's irresponsible."
RedState reporter Bonchie analyzed that Griffin's bias against Hegseth reached "parodic levels" back in April when she pointed out the price of drones being shot down by Houthi terrorists.
"That struck me as odd because I sure can't remember Griffin ever expressing deep concern over the Biden administration regarding the monetary costs of its military losses," Bonchie wrote. "In the past few months, though, she's repeatedly reported on the dollar amounts of various Pentagon expenditures under the Trump administration. Why did that suddenly become relevant?"
He also mentioned her lack of fervor in covering the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, calling her "a stenographer for the Mark Milleys of the world, defending the Pentagon at all costs."
In February, Hegseth slammed Griffin as a "Trump hater" after she criticized the Trump administration's reforms of USAID, claiming that they benefited China and Russia.
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