Wants to shape the narrative: "Hegseth pressured the F-15 pilots shot down in Iran to give interviews"
A CNN report reveals that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior Pentagon officials pressured two crew members of an F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran to appear on CBS's "60 Minutes," despite the pilots' reservations and military concerns about revealing classified details. One pilot ultimately refused to be interviewed.
A CNN report, based on multiple sources, reveals that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior Pentagon officials pressured the two crew members of an F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran in April to appear on CBS's "60 Minutes." According to the report, both pilots initially expressed reservations about participating in the program, and one even feared he would be explicitly ordered to participate. Meanwhile, military officials were concerned about revealing classified details of the rescue operation. Hegseth met with the two and directly asked if they were willing to participate, rather than forcing them. Following the conversation, the pilot codenamed "Bravo" agreed to be interviewed, while the second pilot, "Alpha," refused. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denied the allegations, calling them an "absolute lie," and claimed the decision to be interviewed was solely the pilots'. The report indicates an attempt by the Defense Department to shape the narrative surrounding the war with Iran, amid growing public criticism of the administration. Military officials expressed concern that the interview was an attempt to use the soldiers' heroism for political purposes.