A recent Pentagon press briefing took an unexpected turn when Pete Hegseth was asked unusual questions by reporters from TMZ’s Washington bureau. The moment quickly grabbed attention because of the tone of the questions and Hegseth’s reaction during the exchange.
Unusual Questions at Pentagon Briefing
The interaction happened during a press conference on the war in Iran, where Hegseth appeared alongside Dan Caine. Toward the end of the briefing, Hegseth called on Jacob Wasserman, co-managing editor of TMZ DC, a new media outlet that recently launched its Washington operations.
Wasserman said he would ask one question and leave another for his colleague, Charlie Cotton. Hegseth responded with a slight smirk, saying, “We’ll see.”
Question About Emotions in War Decisions
The first question stood out because of its personal tone. Wasserman said he had heard Hegseth speak about bombing targets and asked what goes through his mind when giving such orders. He also asked whether Hegseth feels adrenaline, fear, or even a sense of power in those moments.
Hegseth reacted by calling it “a very TMZ question,” making it clear he found it unusual for a formal briefing.
Hegseth’s Response to the First Question
Despite the remark, Hegseth gave a direct answer. He said his only focus is to ensure that U.S. warfighters have everything they need to succeed, defeat the enemy, and return home safely.
He explained that war is inherently violent and requires difficult decisions. He added that his goal is to empower troops with the authority they need, within legal and operational limits, to carry out their mission effectively. His emphasis remained on ensuring that American forces return home safely while defeating opposing forces.
Second Question About Department Name
After answering the first question, Hegseth allowed Charlie Cotton to ask one question. Cotton referred to Hegseth’s earlier comments about shifting the mindset of the Department of Defense toward a more aggressive approach.
He then asked whether Hegseth would consider renaming it the “Department of Peace,” since peace is the ultimate goal.
Hegseth’s Reaction to the Second Question
Hegseth smiled and responded positively, calling it “a great question.” He explained that moving from a defensive mindset to a more proactive “war” mindset is about achieving peace through strength.
His answer suggested that being strong and prepared for conflict is, in his view, the best way to maintain peace.
Growing Attention Around TMZ DC
This exchange also highlights the growing presence of TMZ’s Washington bureau, which has started to gain attention for its different style of questioning compared to traditional political reporters.
Their approach, which mixes direct and unconventional questions, has already begun to stand out in official briefings like this one.
Read the exchange below:
DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH: Right here. New members of our press corps here.
JACOB WASSERMAN: Jacob Wasserman with TMZ DC. We have two questions. I’m gonna ask the first, my colleague will ask the second.
HEGSETH: We’ll see.
WASSERMAN: Sorry?
HEGSETH: We’ll see.
WASSERMAN: You know, I’ve heard you talk a lot about bombing people and places. And when you give these orders to carry out this extreme level of violence, what’s going through your mind and your body? Do you have, like, an adrenaline rush? Are you scared? Do you feel like you’re on a power trip? Just walk us through and paint us a picture of what it feels like mentally and physically.
HEGSETH: It’s a very TMZ question. My only thought process is to ensure that our warfighters have everything they need to be successful, defeat and destroy the enemy, and they come home. I want them to feel empowered to have every authority they need within our rules and within our law to bring maximum violence to the enemy. Because war is violent, war requires doing difficult things. But I want our people to feel empowered so it’s our guys that come home and their guys that do not. Sure, I’ll give you one chance.
CHARLIE COTTON: Charlie Cotton from TMZ DC. You changed the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Would you consider changing the name again to the Department of Peace, since that’s what we’re all after?
HEGSETH: Well, that’s the pursuit. It’s a great question, actually. You go from defense to war because you want to be proactive about peace through strength. And really, I gave a speech in front of generals about what the ethos of the War Department is all about, because I wanted to go through every echelon of this department. It means something. It’s not just words. And when you fight a war the right way, the idea is on the other side you bring about peace. That is what we would like to see the most. In fact, I once did a video about the the one institution that should win the Nobel Peace Prize every single year is the United States military, because we are the guarantor of the safety and security, not just of our country, but of a lot of people in this world.
