Amanpour’s Reaction to Hegseth’s Media Criticism Draws Ridicule
CNN’s chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, faced backlash after responding casually to Army Secretary Pete Hegseth’s critique of the media.
During a media briefing on Thursday, Hegseth compared some mainstream journalists to the Pharisees found in the Bible.
He stated, “You should be completely banned from journalism for trying to obscure yourself when you *never* were in the US military.” Amanpour took to social media to retaliate, suggesting that Hegseth held a similar military rank as hers when he retired.
She expressed, “Using the podium of the Pentagon to attack journalists in extreme Biblical terms is unprecedented, misguided, and fundamentally wrong.” Amanpour reminisced about her Sunday school lessons, saying she learned about the Pharisees—who represented the antagonists in Jesus’s story. “As journalists, bearing witness to the truth is our calling, free of biases,” she added.
Hegseth pointed out that the Pharisees overlooked the miracles of Jesus, obsessing instead on his violations of ancient laws. He drew a parallel to the media’s focus on criticizing the president while neglecting his achievements.
Amanpour continued, “I am also familiar with the Ten Commandments and urge any extremist government to adhere to the Ninth Commandment against providing false testimony.” She concluded with a personal note, stating, “The current Army chief retired as a major, just as I did during the First Gulf War.”
Her remarks immediately sparked ridicule online. One user remarked, “If @CNN had any editorial standards, Amanpour would be fired for this bizarre attack on @SecWar’s military service.”
Another critic questioned her claim about her military status, sarcastically asking if her rank was significant and whether it was earned through actual service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In another comment, someone suggested that Amanpour should be barred from journalism for her perceived attempt to mislead regarding her military background, labeling it “stolen courage.”
