Overview

• After B-2 bombers struck Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 21 and 22, Hegseth hailed “our boys on those bombers” without mentioning female pilots.
• The New York Times and other media outlets criticized the phrase as excluding women trained to fly B-2s.
• Hegseth told reporters on June 26 that “our boys” was common parlance and affirmed his pride in both male and female pilots.
• He accused the press of an “obsession with race and gender” and said the Defense Department would no longer play what he called “little games.”
• Throughout the briefing he also praised President Trump and underscored the mission’s success against Iran’s nuclear program.