The Pentagon has ushered in a new era of media relations under Defense Department chief Pete Hegseth, with Tuesday’s briefing demonstrating a dramatic shift from traditional press interactions. Kingsley Wilson, the newly appointed press secretary, conducted her first briefing under controversial new rules that have effectively excluded most nonpartisan news organizations in favor of conservative-leaning outlets.
The briefing revealed a transformed dynamic where questions ranged from softball inquiries to performative exchanges, with Wilson consistently adhering to administration talking points while occasionally criticizing legacy media. This transition follows Hegseth’s implementation of new credentialing rules that mainstream outlets argue severely limit press freedom and critical reporting capabilities.
Among the topics addressed were sensitive military operations, including scrutiny over U.S. strikes on suspected drug courier boats off South America. When questioned about reports that a secondary strike killed two survivors from an initial attack, Wilson emphasized that President Trump and Defense Secretary fully authorized all actions taken by Admiral Frank Bradley.
The session grew particularly contentious when addressing The Washington Post’s reporting that Hegseth had issued a verbal order to ‘kill everybody’ on one targeted boat. Wilson aggressively dismissed the publication, suggesting readers ‘should think twice about reading that outlet again,’ while hinting at potential legal action against the newspaper.
Notable participants included former Congressman Matt Gaetz, now credentialed for One America News, who inquired about Pentagon plans for Venezuela should President Trump oust Nicolás Maduro. Wilson’s evasive responses to several substantive questions drew criticism from veteran journalists observing remotely.
Barbara Starr, retired CNN Pentagon correspondent, noted that while reporters asked ‘very good, pointed, on-the-news questions,’ they largely ‘didn’t get good answers.’ Starr characterized the event as journalistically unsound due to the exclusion of major news organizations.
The briefing also featured supportive questions from conservative commentators, including James O’Keefe, who asked about rooting out ‘disloyal Pentagon employees’—a query Wilson praised as ‘important work.’
The Defense Department has explicitly stated that future briefings will be for ‘invited press only,’ signaling a permanent departure from traditional Pentagon press relations and raising concerns about transparency in military reporting.