Pentagon bars press photographers over 'unflattering' Hegseth photos [View all]

Source: Washington Post

WP Exclusive
Pentagon bars press photographers over 'unflattering' Hegseth photos

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's staff took issue with images taken in a rare briefing last week and decided to shut out photographers from two subsequent news conferences.

March 11, 2026 at 11:26 a.m. EDT


Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a March 2 Pentagon press briefing. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

By Scott Nover

The Defense Department has barred press photographers from briefings on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran after they published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff deemed "unflattering," according to two people familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation.

The March 2 briefing came days after a joint military strike on Iran that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28. It was also the first time the defense secretary had appeared behind the briefing room podium since June 26. Several outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters and Getty Images sent photographers to the briefing from Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But after they published photos -- which have broad reach because they are licensed by publications globally -- members of Hegseth's staff told colleagues that they did not like the way that the secretary looked. Hegseth's aides decided to shut out photographers from the two subsequent briefings at the Pentagon.

{paywall}

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2026/03/11/hegseth-press-briefings-photos-iran/

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/scott-nover/

I copied the text from Joe.My.God.

https://www.joemygod.com/2026/03/pentagon-bans-photographers-from-future-iran-war-briefings-because-of-unflattering-photos-of-hegseth/

Were they dudes in dresses?

https://bsky.app/profile/scottnover.bsky.social

Scott Nover
@scottnover.bsky.social
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Media reporter at The Washington Post. GW adjunct professor of journalism. Send tips securely on Signal: scottnover.99

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Scott Nover
‪@scottnover.bsky.social‬

Scoop: The Pentagon barred press photographers from briefings on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran after they published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff deemed "unflattering."

Pentagon bars press photographers over 'unflattering' Hegseth photos
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's staff took issue with photos taken in a rare briefing last week and decided to shut out press photographers from two subsequent news conferences.
www.washingtonpost.com
11:28 AM � Mar 11, 2026
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Scoop: The Pentagon barred press photographers from briefings on the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military conflict with Iran after they published photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that his staff deemed "unflattering."

— Scott Nover (@scottnover.bsky.social) 2026-03-11T15:28:44.126Z