President Donald Trump on Thursday introduced enthusiastic reward of Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth’s briefing on the Pentagon, the place he supplied extra details about the U.S. moves on Iran and defended the president.
“Probably the most largest, {most professional}, and maximum ‘confirming’ Information Meetings I’ve ever observed! The Faux Information must fireplace everybody concerned on this Witch Hunt, and make an apology to our nice warriors, and everybody else!” Trump wrote on his conservative social media platform, the place previous he had inspired fans to track in.
Hegseth’s information convention got here amid a full-court press from Trump’s peak officers disputing a initial U.S. intelligence evaluate that mentioned the bombings will have most effective set Iran’s nuclear program again by means of a couple of months.
“You wish to have to name it destroyed. You wish to have to name it defeated. You wish to have to name it obliterated. Select your phrase. This used to be an traditionally a success assault and we must have a good time as American citizens,” a defiant Hegseth mentioned from the rostrum as he railed towards the scoop media protection of the occasions and the leaked preliminary intelligence evaluate.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Personnel Air Pressure Gen. Dan Caine arrive for a information convention on the Pentagon, June 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
“That is initial however leaked as a result of anyone had an time table to take a look at to muddy the waters and make it seem like this historical strike wasn’t a success,” Hegseth mentioned.
“Labeled data is leaked or peddled for political functions to take a look at to make the president glance dangerous,” he added.
The day prior, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard posted statements pronouncing their intelligence supported Trump’s description of the wear inflicted by means of the U.S. army operation.
“CIA can ascertain {that a} frame of credible intelligence signifies Iran’s Nuclear Program has been seriously broken by means of the hot, focused moves,” Ratcliffe wrote in a remark.
Gabbard wrote on X: “New intelligence confirms what @POTUS has said a large number of instances: Iran’s nuclear amenities had been destroyed. If the Iranians selected to rebuild, they must rebuild all 3 amenities (Natanz, Fordow, Esfahan) fully, which might most likely take years to do.”
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, who on Sunday had mentioned it used to be “manner too early” to make whole injury checks, at Thursday’s information convention declined to offer an in depth injury evaluate.
“Through design, we do not grade our personal homework. The intelligence neighborhood does,” Caine mentioned.
“However here is what we all know following the assaults and the moves on Fordo,” Caine persisted. “First, that the guns have been constructed, examined and loaded correctly. Two, the guns have been launched on velocity and on parameters. 3, the guns all guided to their meant goals and to their meant intention issues. 4, the guns functioned as designed, which means they exploded.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Personnel Air Pressure Gen. Dan Caine seems right through a information convention on the Pentagon on June 26, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
“We all know this thru different approach, intelligence approach that we’ve got that we have been visibly ready to peer them,” Caine added. “And we all know that the trailing jets noticed the primary guns serve as and the pilots said quote this used to be the brightest explosion that I have ever observed. It actually gave the impression of sunlight.'”
Caine used to be requested if he felt any political power on methods to describe the moves or their affect. “No, I’ve now not, and no, I’d now not,” Caine spoke back.
Hegseth momentarily interrupted the wondering.
“The chairman right here, who is now not curious about politics, he does not do politics. That is my lane — to know and translate and discuss the ones forms of issues. So, I will use the phrase ‘obliterated,'” Hegseth mentioned, the time period Trump has used time and again.
Nonetheless, a number of questions stay now not totally spoke back, specifically how a ways precisely the moves set again Iran’s nuclear functions and whether or not Iran used to be ready to transport uranium clear of the Fordo website online sooner than the bombings.
Hegseth and Caine have been requested concerning the uranium right through their 45-minute information convention. Neither supplied a transparent solution.
Hegseth first attacked the scoop reporter who requested the query, sooner than pronouncing: “We are having a look in any respect facets of intelligence and ensuring we have now a way of what used to be the place.”
Later, Hegseth mentioned on uranium: “I am not acutely aware of any intelligence that I have reviewed that claims issues weren’t the place they have been meant to be — moved or another way.”
President Trump, who used to be staring at the scoop convention, took to his social media account to weigh in on hypothesis that Iran will have moved uranium as a result of satellite tv for pc photographs appearing vans covered up at Fordo within the days main as much as the assault.
“The automobiles and small vans on the website online have been the ones of concrete employees looking to duvet up the highest of the shafts. Not anything used to be taken out of facility. Would take too lengthy, too unhealthy, and really heavy and difficult to transport!” Trump wrote on his social media website online.
White Space press secretary Karoline Leavitt used to be requested at her personal briefing on Thursday what Trump’s social media publish used to be in keeping with.
“Glance, the president shared that remark with all of you. And I already spoke back the query about whether or not uranium used to be moved previous to the strike. And the solution is not any,” Leavitt mentioned.
Leavitt used to be additionally requested if the Protection Intelligence Company document at the U.S. moves could be made public. The preliminary evaluate that used to be reported in this week used to be produced by means of DIA with the assistance of U.S. Central Command.
“I don’t believe this management goes to get into the addiction of sharing labeled top-secret data,” she mentioned. “The ones classifications exist for a explanation why. And I want everybody who had the privilege of having a look at those paperwork would recognize that.”
