Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume hit back at Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday in defense of his colleague Jennifer Griffin, who was attacked earlier that morning by Hegseth during a press conference over her coverage of the U.S. strikes in Iran last week.
“Jennifer, you’ve been about the worst, the one who misrepresents the most intentionally,” Hegseth told Griffin on Thursday morning, responding to her question about whether Iran moved its enriched uranium before the strikes.
Later that same day, Hume went to bat for Griffin, calling the attack uncalled for and unfair.
“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,” Hume said. “Her professionalism, her knowledge, and her experience at the Pentagon is unmatched, and I have then, have had and still have the greatest regard for her. The attack on her was unfair.”
Questions remain as to the effectiveness of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, with preliminary intelligence reports suggesting the attacks may have only set back Iran’s nuclear program by months, far from the assessment given by President Donald Trump and Hegseth who claim the sites had been completely obliterated, setting the program back years.
Hegseth’s behavior during the news conference, where he periodically lashed out at the media for its reporting on evidence suggesting the Iran strikes were less effective than previously thought, has been described by some onlookers as unhinged. That includes a comment from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who questioned whether the defense secretary had broken down in tears.