Pentagon Bars Its Own Newspaper from Press Conference Amid Iran Coverage Concerns

Reporter Matthew Adams posted on social media that “Stars and Stripes was not approved to attend the press conference. I have to watch it on screen.” He cited a recent Pentagon directive instructing the newspaper to structure and edit its content according to official guidelines.

Fellow reporter Kevin Baron expressed surprise, questioning whether the Pentagon had effectively blacklisted its own publication. He noted that Stars and Stripes staff are civilian employees of the U.S. military and enjoy editorial independence protected by Congress to prevent political leaders from using the press for propaganda.

PEN America senior analyst Timothy Richardson said the new directives signal that the Pentagon wants to use the publication as a propaganda tool, which violates the First Amendment.

In January, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell had announced that the Trump administration aimed to “modernize” Stars and Stripes by removing “week distractions” and focusing on content that boosts troop morale. The new guidelines allow editorial independence but require the newspaper to publish “disciplined and orderly” content.

Editor Eric Slavin told National Public Radio that the directives have left the staff uncertain. He questioned whether publishing reports disfavored by the Department could lead to legal consequences, noting that they learned about the rules three days after their issuance.

The Independent reported that Trump had previously blocked efforts to shut down Stars and Stripes during his first term, praising it as a valuable source of military information. However, amid the Iran conflict, Hegseth and Trump have tightened control over news coverage.

Hegseth has accused the media of distorting the situation in Iran and “making the U.S. look small.” On social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that outlets spreading “fake” news could be considered engaging in “treason.”