Read our Privacy noticeThe Pentagon has not permitted photographers to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's last two briefings on the war in Iran, and hasn't explained the change in longstanding policy. Most mainstream news organizations have left their desks at the Pentagon rather than accept new Trump administration rules that restrict their movements and who they can talk to. The Pentagon has been giving passes to reporters who vacated their desks at the Pentagon in order to attend Hegseth's briefings on the war. Although Hegseth infrequently recognizes those legacy news reporters at the briefings, he did call on one of them, Eric Schmitt of The New York Times, on Tuesday. The Times' war coverage has drawn the attention of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Source: The Times March 12, 2026 05:49 UTC