Nearly two weeks ago, Donald Trump launched a wholly unprovoked, illegal war against Iran that many experts have concluded was his attempt to juice his historically slumping approval ratings, or as a favor to his foreign friends (e.g. Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc.), and/or to deflect attention from his unsavory relationship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and his obstruction of the release of the Epstein files.

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Nevertheless, the war against Iran, that Trump says he has already won and can end any time wants (but doesn’t want to), continues to rage on, producing more tragic injuries and deaths of American soldiers, and hundreds more of Iranian civilians. But not to worry. Trump’s Secretary of “Wars,” Pete Hegseth, is laser focused on the “excursion” (as Trump calls it), and is managing the conflict exactly as you might expect a former Fox New host to do…

SEE THIS: Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Secretary of ‘Wah’ is a Crybaby Who Bans ‘Unflattering’ Photos of Himself

On Friday Hegseth held another press conference to lie about the progress of the war. In each of his prior media avails, Hegseth has spent more time lambasting the media than providing any honest information about the what’s going on in Iran. This time was no different as Hegseth sought to portray any bad news as “fake,” while assuming the facade of a macho war gamer in his mom’s basement (video below). For instance…

“We will keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies. Yet some in this crew, in the press, just can’t stop. Allow me to make a few suggestions. People look up at the TV and they see banners, they see headlines. I used to be in that business. And I know that everything is written intentionally.”

For the record, according to international humanitarian law, orders to give “no quarter, no mercy,” are regarded as war crimes. And Hegseth’s bragging that he used to be in the media business only affirms his experience with, and devotion to, surface level appearances. He went on to say that…

“More fake news from CNN: ‘Reports that the Trump administration underestimated the Iran war’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz.’ Patently ridiculous, of course. For decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do. Hold the Strait hostage. CNN doesn’t think we thought of that. It’s a fundamentally unserious report. The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.’

If the Trump regime did anticipate that Iran would block the Strait, then why didn’t they do anything about it in advance to mitigate its impact? Did they just decide to let Iran shut down oil traffic in the Strait, roiling energy markets and raising gas prices? Because that’s what it seems like based on another comment by Hegseth, who said that “The only thing prohibiting transit in the straits right now is Iran shooting at shipping.” Really? What an enlightening update. Thanks Captain Obvious.

Hegseth then added that the Strait would be “open for transit if Iran didn’t do that.” That’s true. But it’s like saying that Mar-a-Lago would be open for pedophiles if Trump…Oh wait. It already is!

Even worse was Hegseth’s view that “The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better.” He is flagrantly advocating the sort of fascist takeover of the media that is practiced in authoritarian regimes like Russia, China, and North Korea. And he is admitting that the acquisition of CNN by David and Larry Ellison would achieve the right-wing bias that critics of the merger have warned about.

Hegseth’s official DoD Twitter account was apparently proud of his remarks about Iran and the media. It posted a tweet saying that “SECWAR JUST LIT UP THE FAKE NEWS:” Perhaps in their own imaginations. More realistically, Hegseth just provided more proof of his dishonesty and disrespect for the First Amendment.

What’s more, Hegseth was saying all of this in a press room where he has previously banned most of the media that isn’t already MAGA-friendly. Among the “reporters” in the room were those from Trump-fluffing networks such as Lindell TV, One America News, and Real America News. So it’s no wonder that there wasn’t any serious pushback or follow ups.

RELATED STORIES”

• Pete Hegseth Callously Dismisses American Fatalities as the Press ‘Wanting to Make Trump Look Bad’
• Trump Says He Knows Where Iranian Sleeper Cells Are in the U.S. But He Isn’t Going After Them?
• The Trump Regime Takes Putin at His Word About Russia Aiding Iran but Wanting to Help the U.S.

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