Pete Hegseth blasts CNNs Iran war coverage: The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better

War Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at CNN’s coverage of the war in Iran, saying that “the sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” as Paramount Skydance moves ahead with its $111 billion purchase of Warner Bros.Discovery.The comment came at a Friday press briefing as Hegseth was bashing an article published the day before that claimed the Trump administration had overlooked the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz — “more fake news from CNN,” the war secretary sneered.“No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.

Yet some in the press just can’t stop,” said the former Fox News host.“The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better,” he added.Since Paramount won the bidding war for CNN’s parent company Warner Bros.Discovery, some media watchers have predicted Paramount will shift the cable news network’s political orientation along the lines it did at CBS News, where Ellison-hired Bari Weiss has brought more conservative voices.For his part, Ellison has vowed to maintain CNN’s “editorial independence” as the deal — which would create a Hollywood behemoth including the news outlet, HBO, CBS and thousands of film titles — goes through regulatory review.Hegseth’s ire Friday was directed at a CNN article that claimed the Pentagon and national security team had “significantly underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz,” after the Middle Eastern nation blocked the key maritime route for 20% of the world’s oil supply.Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei – who was reportedly injured in the US-Israeli strikes that killed his father – has vowed to keep the blockade in place and attack any vessels that dare to traverse the waterway, sending oil and gasoline prices soaring.The CNN report, which cited multiple anonymous sources, claimed the oversight was a failing of President Trump’s preference to lean on “a tight circle of close advisers,” which ...