Hegseth claims press covers troop deaths in Iran war to make Trump look bad

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Pentagon reporters that media coverage of American service members killed in the Iran war — including six troops killed by an Iranian drone at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait — was motivated by a desire to damage President Trump politically. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine immediately followed Hegseth by memorializing the fallen troops by name. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later backed Hegseth's claim, saying the press "only wants to make the president look bad."