"When images from the event circulated globally, Hegseth's aides complained internally about how the defense secretary looked in the photographs, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, Two people familiar with the decision spoke anonymously to the newspaper out of fear of retaliation, and said some staffers found the pictures unflattering."
"In order to use space in the Pentagon Briefing Room effectively, we are allowing one representative per news outlet if uncredentialed, excluding pool. Photographs from the briefings are immediately released online for the public and press to use. If that hurts the business model for certain news outlets, then they should consider applying for a Pentagon press credential."
"The restrictions come just months after members of Pentagon press corps turned in their badges and dozens walked out in united protest of a policy restricting journalists from soliciting information not authorized by the government."
Pentagon staffers restricted press photographers from briefings on escalating U.S.-Iran conflict following complaints about unflattering photographs of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. After a March 2 briefing where Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine provided updates on military strikes, Hegseth's aides internally objected to how the defense secretary appeared in circulated images. The Pentagon subsequently barred photographers from major wire services including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Getty Images from briefings on March 4 and March 10. Only Defense Department staff photographers are now permitted in the briefing room. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson attributed the restrictions to space and credentialing requirements rather than image concerns, stating photographs are released online for public use.
#pentagon-press-restrictions #defense-secretary-hegseth #media-access-control #government-transparency #iran-conflict-coverage
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