A White House briefing erupted into a heated clash Wednesday when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt forcefully defended War Secretary Pete Hegseth after a reporter pressed her over his comments about media coverage of U.S. troop deaths in the Iran conflict.
The exchange began when Kaitlan Collins asked whether the administration believed the press should avoid prominently covering the deaths of American service members.
“Is it the position of this administration that the press should not prominently cover the deaths of U.S. service members?” Collins asked.
Leavitt shot back that the administration’s concern was not coverage itself but how the war was being portrayed.
“No. It’s the position of this administration that the press in this room and the press across this country should accurately report on the success of Operation Epic Fury and the damage it is doing to the rogue Iranian regime that has threatened the lives of every single American in this room,” she said.
The operation — Operation Epic Fury — has become the centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s military campaign against Iran.
Leavitt went further, warning reporters that Iran’s leadership poses a direct threat to Americans.
“If the Iranian regime had their choice, they would kill every single person in this room,” she said. “And so we can all be very grateful that we have an administration and that we have men and women in our armed forces who are willing to sacrifice their own lives for the rest of us.”
The confrontation escalated when Collins noted that Hegseth had criticized media outlets for prominently covering the deaths of six American service members killed in the war.
“But Secretary Hegseth was complaining that it was front-page news about these six service members who were killed,” Collins said.
Leavitt immediately pushed back.
“That’s not what the secretary said, Kaitlan. And that’s not what the secretary meant, and you know it!” she replied. “You know you are being disingenuous.”
As Collins began reading Hegseth’s comments aloud, the press secretary doubled down — accusing the media of focusing on negative coverage of the president.
“The press does only want to make the president look bad. That’s a fact,” Leavitt said. “Especially you — no, listen to me — especially you and especially CNN.”
Leavitt also defended Hegseth personally, saying the defense chief is deeply committed to supporting U.S. troops.
“And the secretary of defense cares deeply about our warfighters and our men and women in uniform,” she said. “He travels all across this country to meet with them, to connect with them. And your network has hardly ever probably reported on that.”
Watch the clip below:
Karoline Leavitt gives a MAJOR BLOW to CNN's Katilan Collins, leaving her GAGGED.
COLLINS: "Secretary Hegseth was complaining that it was front-page news about these six service members who were killed."
LEAVITT: "That's not what the secretary said, Kaitlan. And that's not what… pic.twitter.com/8abgw5ZW35
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) March 4, 2026
More over at The New York Post:
Karoline Leavitt unloads on Kaitlan Collins, says CNN wants 'to make the president look bad' with 6 service members killed in Iran war https://t.co/F1G6GuId3N pic.twitter.com/wduDyn6EXH
— New York Post (@nypost) March 4, 2026
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