Pentagon places restrictions on photographers, including to Hegseth’s anti-press marketing campaign

When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke within the Pentagon briefing room on the third day of the conflict in Iran, he was an unfamiliar sight: It was the primary time the previous Fox News host had appeared within the room since June. Not surprisingly, media photographers took a barrage of images of the secretary on the briefing.

That ordinarily wouldn’t be particularly notable, besides on this occasion, the developments led the Defense Department to make some surprising adjustments. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has barred press photographers from conflict briefings after Hegseth’s employees deemed printed pictures of the secretary “unflattering.” From the article:

Several retailers together with the Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images despatched photographers to the briefing from Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But after they printed photographs — which have broad attain as a result of they’re licensed by publications globally — members of Hegseth’s employees instructed colleagues that they didn’t like the way in which that the secretary seemed. Hegseth’s aides determined to close out photographers from the 2 subsequent briefings on the Pentagon, on March 4 and March 10, in accordance with the 2 individuals aware of the choice.

While the Post’s report hasn’t been independently verified by MS NOW, the Pentagon’s spokesperson confirmed the brand new restrictions on the report. National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. formally denounced the developments in a written assertion on Wednesday afternoon.

If the developments sound acquainted, there’s a superb cause: Hegseth has taken a collection of steps over the course of the previous yr to undermine journalists who cowl the Pentagon. In September, he instructed information organizations that reporters gained’t be allowed to cowl the division except they agree solely to report info, together with unclassified info, approved for launch by the administration.

Outlets that refused to conform to his absurd phrases, Hegseth added, would lose entry and have their press badges confiscated.

Practically each main information group refused, together with MS NOW (my employer) and Fox News (Hegseth’s former employer). The consequence was an exodus of Pentagon correspondents, every of whom refused to simply accept the executive restrictions, exiting the Pentagon en masse in a display of unity. (Hegseth’s crew ultimately introduced the “next generation” of “correspondents,” that includes assorted far-right activists, influencers and media personalities who did settle for the administration’s journalistic limits.)

But the shift on photographers pushes the broader effort to a brand new and extra embarrassing degree: The Defense Department isn’t simply involved about substance, it now appears to be targeted on appearances.