Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has unleashed a response that scorched a reporter demanding to know why administration references to the pilots who bombed Iranian nuclear weapon sites did not pointedly note that some were male, and some female.
“We don’t play your little games,” he said. “When you spin it as because I say ‘our boys in bombers’ as a common phrase – I’ll keep saying things like that, whether they’re men or women. I’m very proud of that female pilot, just like I’m very proud of those male pilots.
“I don’t care if it’s a male or a female in the cockpit, and the American people don’t care. But it’s the obsession with race and gender in this department that’s changed priorities, and we don’t do that anymore.”
. @SecDef gave the PERFECT response when asked
“Why not acknowledge female pilots that participated, early messages congratulated the boys?” pic.twitter.com/BAqwj6bfdV
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 26, 2025
A report from the Daily Wire characterized it as when Hegseth “laid into a reporter who asked why he hadn’t specifically congratulated the female pilots who had been a part of the United States’ recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.”
In the wake of the attacks, Hegseth had congratulated “the boys.”
Among those complaining that Hegseth did not meet their required standard of language for inclusiveness was the New York Times, that had pointed out women were involved.
It was Times Pentagon reporter John Ismay who complained.
The Daily Wire, said, “When that topic came up during Thursday morning’s briefing, Hegseth bowed his head slightly, laughing, before responding.”
“See, this is the kind of thing the press does,” Hegseth said. “Of course, the chairman mentioned a female bomber pilot. Fantastic. She’s fantastic. She’s a hero. I want more female bomber pilots. I hope the men and women of our country sign up to do such brave and audacious things.”
He explained the fault lies in the media “spin.”
Social media joined Hegseth in ripping the media, with, “From the folks who can’t define a woman!” and “The left constantly lauds the accomplishments and reserve’s accolades for specifically one race or gender. Ironic.”
BREAKING: SecDef Pete Hegseth stares right at the press and goes scorched earth, spelling out their insanity. I could watch this all day.
“You, and I mean specifically YOU, the press, you cheer against Trump so hard, it’s in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump,… pic.twitter.com/nmazQcUP8a
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 26, 2025
It wasn’t Hegseth’s only word on the bias in the press.
“You, and I mean specifically YOU, the press corps, because you cheer against Trump so hard, in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump., because you want him to be unsuccessful so bad, you have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes.
“You have to hope, maybe they weren’t effective. … So let’s take half-truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it, spin it in every way we can to try to cause doubt and manipulate the minds of the public.”
