Defense Secretary Hegseth Attacks 'Unpatriotic' Media, Compares Reporters to Pharisees

Hegseth escalates criticism of media's Iran war coverage, using religious rhetoric to accuse journalists of political bias.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:50pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A quiet, cinematic painting of a lone figure sitting at a desk in a dimly lit government office, the space bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the political tensions between the media and the Trump administration.The Defense Secretary's religious rhetoric in attacking the media's coverage of the Iran war reflects the growing political divide between the Trump administration and the press.Today in Miami

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has escalated his attacks on the media, comparing reporters covering the Iran war to the Pharisees, a biblical Jewish group that opposed Jesus. Hegseth described the American media as 'incredibly unpatriotic' and accused them of 'relentlessly negative coverage' despite the 'historic and important success' of the military effort in Iran.

Why it matters

Hegseth's use of religious rhetoric to criticize the media's coverage of the Iran war represents a departure from the language used by previous Defense Department leaders. His comments reflect a broader trend of Trump administration officials using Christian themes and biblical references in public statements, which some see as an attempt to appeal to the president's evangelical base.

The details

During a Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said he was at church on Sunday when his pastor read a Bible passage about Jesus healing a man in front of the Pharisees, 'the so-called and self-appointed elites of their time.' Hegseth then compared the media to the Pharisees, accusing them of 'politically motivated animus for President Trump' that 'nearly completely blinds you from the brilliance of our American warriors.' He said the media 'scrutinized every good act in order to find a violation, only looking for the negative' and have 'hardened hearts' that are 'calibrated only to impugn.'

  • Hegseth's comments came during a Pentagon press briefing on April 16, 2026.
  • The Iran war began in late February 2026.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Secretary of Defense, appointed by President Donald Trump. Hegseth was previously a host on Fox News before joining the Trump administration.

Bill Grueskin

A professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, who criticized Hegseth's misunderstanding of the media's role in the U.S.

Gretchen Carlson

A former Fox News anchor who criticized Hegseth's use of religion to shame journalists.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'Sometimes it's hard to figure out what side some of you are actually on.'”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

“'Ideally, reporters are on the side of the truth and see their role as providing the most accurate, complete and transparent account of what's happening on the ground.'”

— Bill Grueskin, Professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism

“'As a Christian how dare you use religion to shame those who simply ask questions.'”

— Gretchen Carlson, Former Fox News Anchor

What’s next

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Hegseth's remarks, and it remains to be seen if the Defense Secretary will face any backlash or further scrutiny for his use of religious rhetoric to criticize the media's coverage of the Iran war.

The takeaway

Hegseth's attacks on the media, including his comparison of reporters to the biblical Pharisees, reflect a broader trend of Trump administration officials using Christian themes and language to appeal to the president's evangelical base. This represents a significant departure from the more neutral, non-partisan tone typically used by previous Defense Department leaders when addressing the press.