Secretary Pete Hegseth Accused of Suppressing Press and God-Washing War

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is facing accusations of suppressing press freedoms and using religious justification for the war in Iran. Since early 2025, Hegseth restricted Pentagon press access by removing major news organizations from dedicated workstations and limiting reporters to a single corridor. These measures, which conditioned credentials on military approval, led most of the Pentagon press corps to vacate the building in October 2025.

Critics also accuse Hegseth of "God-washing" the conflict. This follows a Christian worship service he led at the Pentagon, during which he prayed for "overwhelming violence" and that "every round find its mark" against enemies. Representative Jared Huffman and various religious leaders have criticized the use of biblical prophecies to justify military action.

The Trump administration has further pressured the media regarding the conflict. President Donald Trump teased a ground invasion of Iran, while FCC Chairman Brendan Carr reportedly threatened the broadcast licenses of networks providing critical coverage of the war.