New Pentagon Ban: Hegset Did Not Allow Photographers to Cover the Last Two Press Conferences
The Pentagon did not allow photographers to cover the last two press briefings by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the war in Iran and has not explained the change in long-standing policy.
TL;DR
- Pentagon denied photographers access to the last two press briefings by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
- The reason for this policy change has not been explained.
- The Ministry of Defense under Hegseth has had a tense relationship with the media.
- Many major news organizations have left their Pentagon positions due to new restrictive rules on movement and communication.
- A new press corps, accepting the rules and largely supporting President Trump, now occupies those positions.
- The New York Times is suing the Trump administration to reverse Hegseth's rules.
- The New York Times argues for the importance and public benefit of journalists fully reporting on the U.S. military, including photojournalists.
- Hegseth continues to allow video cameras at his briefings.
- The White House stated it would not be 'harassed' by The New York Times regarding an investigation into a bombing in Iran.
- Preliminary findings suggest the U.S. may be responsible for the bombing due to outdated information used to target a Tomahawk missile.