The White House briefing room briefly turned into a battleground on Wednesday as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins traded sharp words over how the media has covered American soldiers killed during the escalating conflict with Iran.
The confrontation unfolded as Leavitt fielded questions about Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, and the deaths of six American service members killed in retaliatory strikes.
What began as a routine question quickly escalated into a tense exchange, with Leavitt accusing Collins and her network of portraying the administration unfairly.
“You know you are being disingenuous,” Leavitt shot back after Collins quoted remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticizing media coverage of the conflict.
She argued that the Iranian government posed a direct threat to Americans and defended the military operation as necessary.
“If the Iranian regime had their choice, they would kill every single person in this room,” Leavitt said. “We can all be very grateful that we have men and women in our armed forces who are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the rest of us.”
CLASH OVER MEDIA COVERAGE
Collins pressed the press secretary over whether the administration believed the deaths of US service members should receive prominent coverage in the press.
When Collins read Hegseth’s earlier comments that tragic incidents during the war quickly become front page news, Leavitt rejected the interpretation.
“That’s not what the Secretary said, Kaitlan, and that’s not what the Secretary meant — and you know it!” Leavitt said.
Collins responded that journalists report troop deaths regardless of which president is in power.
“As you know, we cover the deaths of US service members under every president,” Collins said.
Leavitt did not hold back, accusing CNN and parts of the media of consistently casting President Donald Trump in a negative light.
“Yes, the press does only want to make the president look bad. That’s a fact,” she said. “Listen to me — especially you and especially CNN.”
She added that the administration expected journalists to report on the sacrifices made by American troops as well as the military’s broader mission.
“We expect the press in this room and across the country to accurately report on the success of Operation Epic Fury and the damage it is doing to the rogue Iranian regime,” Leavitt said.
Leavitt countered by accusing CNN of consistently portraying the administration negatively.
“If you’re trying to argue that CNN’s overwhelming coverage is not negative of President Donald Trump, I think the American people would tend to agree — and your ratings would tend to disagree with that as well,” she said.
DEFENSE OF PENTAGON LEADERSHIP
Earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth complained about some of the coverage of the US and Israel attacks on Iran, claiming that media outlets are focusing in on tragic incident to make President Trump look bad.
Speaking at a briefing, Hegseth said, “When a few drones get through, or tragic things happen, it’s front page news. I get it. The press only wants to make the president look bad. But try for once to report the reality. The terms of this war will be set by us at every step.”
Leavitt also defended Hegseth, insisting that he deeply supports US troops despite criticism over his comments about media coverage.
“We’ve never had a Secretary of Defense who cares more about our warfighters and our men and women in uniform,” she said.
“He travels across this country to meet with them, to connect with them — and your network has hardly ever reported on that.”
TRUMP TO ATTEND DIGNIFIED TRANSFER
The clash came hours after Leavitt confirmed that President Trump plans to attend the dignified transfer ceremony for the six US service members killed during the conflict.
“The President of the United States will be attending their dignified transfer,” she told reporters.
