Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took the Trump-hating media to task over its reporting on the war with Iran, calling out CNN by name before declaring, “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better!”
Hegseth held a press conference this week with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and the Trump official offered some more realistic headlines that media outlets should be running with.
“Some in this crew, in the press, just can’t stop,” Hegseth said. “Allow me to make a few suggestions. People look up at the TV, and they see banners. They see headlines. I used to be in that business. And I know that everything is written intentionally.”
“For example, a banner or a headline, ‘Mideast War intensifies,’ splashing on the screen the last couple of days alongside visuals of civilian or energy targets that Iran has hit because that’s what they do,” he continued. “What should the banner read instead? How about ‘Iran increasingly desperate?’ Because they are. They know it, and so do you, if it can be admitted.”
Hegseth: “Some in the press just can’t stop. Allow me to make a few suggestions. People look at the TV and they see banners, headlines — I used to be in that business, I know everything is written intentionally. For example, a banner — ‘Mideast War Intensifies.’ What should the… pic.twitter.com/mbz70e7SsY
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 13, 2026
“Or more fake news from CNN. ‘Reports that the Trump administration underestimated the Iran War’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz.’ Patently ridiculous, of course.” Hegseth said. “For decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do: hold the strait hostage. CNN doesn’t think we thought of that. It’s a fundamentally unserious report. The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better!”
Paramount CEO David Ellison reached a $111 billion deal to acquire CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, earlier this month, although he said editorial independence “will absolutely be maintained” at the network.
“Another example of a fake headline that I saw yesterday: ‘War Widening.’ Here’s a real headline for you for an actual patriotic press. How about ‘Iran shrinking, going underground?’ You see Iran’s leaders are hiding in bunkers and moving into civilian areas,” Hegseth continued. “The only thing that is widening is our advantage.”
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
The fake news has TDS.
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) March 13, 2026
The media will not put an ounce of positivity towards the American side of this conflict.
— WW (@Theurb) March 13, 2026
This is why I stopped watching the news. You can’t believe anything they say.
— 🇺🇸🇺🇸DADA🇺🇲🇺🇲 (@BredsguardDalen) March 13, 2026
Our “media” is actively working against the efforts of our men and women in #operationEpicFury .The propaganda they are spewing is despicable.
— Suzanne (@SuzanneFLA) March 13, 2026
Who still watches CNN?
— VegasCheesehead (@Shady_Justin) March 13, 2026
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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