At a NATO press conference in The Hague on June 25, 2025, President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made a series of misleading and false statements regarding U.S. military actions against Iran and the results of the NATO summit. Their remarks were marked not only by inaccuracies but also by aggressive attacks on the press, particularly against journalists who questioned the administration’s claims.
False Claims and Misleading Statements
Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth all insisted that recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program and were a resounding success. Trump claimed, “We destroyed the nuclear. It’s blown up … to kingdom come,” while Hegseth echoed this, stating, “Iran’s nuclear program is obliterated.” Rubio supported these assertions, reinforcing the administration’s narrative. However, multiple credible sources—including classified U.S. intelligence assessments and independent media reports—indicated that the strikes had only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by a few months and did not destroy core infrastructure. The White House dismissed these intelligence reports as “completely inaccurate,” but did not provide evidence to support its claim of total destruction.
On NATO commitments, Trump and Rubio misrepresented the outcome of the summit regarding defense spending. Trump claimed that “almost all” NATO members had committed to spending 5% of GDP on defense, a figure he repeatedly touted as a personal achievement. Rubio called it “the Trump summit,” crediting Trump with forcing allies to increase their contributions. In reality, while most NATO members did agree to increase defense spending, the 5% target is aspirational and will be phased in over a decade, not achieved immediately as Trump’s rhetoric implied. Some countries, like Spain, negotiated exemptions from the target.
Trump’s statements about NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause also raised concerns. While he said at the summit, “we’re with them all the way,” just a day earlier he had remarked that his commitment to mutual defense “depends on your definition,” sowing doubt among allies about U.S. reliability.
Aggressive Attacks on the Press
Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth launched a sustained attack on the press throughout the conference, particularly targeting outlets that questioned the effectiveness of the airstrikes and the administration’s NATO claims.
- Trump repeatedly called major U.S. media organizations “fake news,” singling out CNN and The New York Times. He accused these outlets of “maligning” the U.S. military by casting doubt on the success of the strikes, and claimed that American pilots were “devastated” by negative media coverage. Trump dismissed CNN as “wasting time” and claimed “nobody’s watching them,” further undermining their credibility in front of the assembled press corps.
- Hegseth echoed Trump’s attacks, accusing the media of manipulating information for political gain and of attempting to undermine the president and the military. He characterized intelligence assessments that contradicted the administration’s claims as “preliminary” and “low in confidence,” and accused news organizations of twisting the narrative to make Trump look unfavorable. He also denounced “fake news” and defended the airstrikes, claiming that anyone doubting the mission’s success was trying to undermine the president and the operation.
- Rubio did not engage in the same level of direct name-calling as Trump and Hegseth, but he supported the administration’s narrative and echoed their dismissive attitude toward media skepticism. His presence alongside Trump and Hegseth reinforced the administration’s united front against the press.
Context and Impact
The press conference was marked by a confrontational atmosphere, with Trump and Hegseth using their remarks to attack journalists for doing their jobs—asking questions and reporting on intelligence assessments that conflicted with official statements. The White House and Pentagon also announced a leak investigation in response to media reports about the limited effectiveness of the airstrikes, further escalating tensions between the administration and the press.
Overall, the June 25 NATO press conference highlighted a pattern of hostility toward the media and a willingness to misrepresent facts. Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth used their platform to discredit journalists, dismiss inconvenient facts, and rally support for the administration’s version of events. Their approach was widely criticized as an attempt to deflect scrutiny and suppress independent reporting.
Sources:
Sources for U.S. Military Actions Against Iran
- Classified U.S. intelligence assessments on Iran nuclear program, June 2025
- Reports from The Associated Press on U.S. airstrikes in Iran, June 2025
- Reuters coverage of Iran nuclear facility strikes, June 2025
- Statements from the White House dismissing intelligence reports, June 2025
- Official Pentagon briefings on airstrike outcomes, June 2025
Sources for NATO Summit Defense Spending Commitments
- Official NATO summit communique, June 2025
- Statements by President Trump on NATO defense spending, June 25, 2025
- Statements by Secretary Rubio on NATO summit outcomes, June 25, 2025
- Analysis by NATO Watch on defense spending commitments, June 2025
- Reports from BBC News on NATO defense spending targets, June 2025
Sources for Trump’s Statements on NATO’s Article 5
- Transcript of Trump’s remarks on NATO Article 5, June 24-25, 2025
- NATO official statement on Article 5 commitments, June 2025
- Analysis by Foreign Policy magazine on Trump’s Article 5 comments, June 2025
- Statements from NATO allies expressing concern over U.S. commitment, June 2025
Sources for Attacks on the Press at the NATO Press Conference
- Transcript of June 25, 2025 NATO press conference
- Video recording of NATO press conference, June 25, 2025
- Reports from The New York Times on Trump, Rubio, and Hegseth’s attacks on the press, June 2025
- CNN coverage of media attacks at NATO conference, June 25, 2025
- Statements from White House and Pentagon on leak investigation, June 2025
