Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blew a gasket when asked about recent setbacks in the war in Iran, and he responded with new threats against journalists.
The Pentagon chief has disparaged reporters as "unpatriotic" and compared them the Pharisees, the biblical scribes who played a hand in handing over Jesus to the Romans for crucifixion, and he reacted hotly Friday morning when asked about U.S. Army nuclear chief Andrew Hug, who reportedly revealed top-secret information to a stranger he met through a dating app.
"He won't work here anymore, that's an easy one," Hegseth said. "Well, we're always on thelookout for CIA threats, anyinternal, anyone talkingout of school about things theyshould not. We take leaking veryseriously here, informally orformally, which is why some ofthe reporting done by some ofthe people in here is incrediblyproblematic. They're willing topublish things based onclassified information thatwould potentially harm those inharm's way, and we think themdoing so is incrediblyirresponsible and unpatriotic, and I would encourage members ofthe press to think twice aboutthe lives they're affectingwhen they publish things intheir publications, like the New York Times."
Hegseth erupted again when asked about a report that the Pentagon had briefed Congress that it could take up to six months to complete a mine sweep of the Strait of Hormuz.
"We would not speculate on atimeline," Hegseth said. "I saw that report. Itwas based on, again, anotherleak from a closed-door session,which was supposed to beclassified, and apparently,allegedly, that was somethingthat was said about we feelconfident in our ability in thecorrect period of time to clearany mines that we identify andwould encourage other countriesto be a part of such an effortas well. But we're trackingthat very closely."