Ex-Pentagon Reporter Rips Hegseth’s ‘Lazy Use Of An Emoji’ to Media Outlets Refusing to Sign His Pledge

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Legendary ex-Pentagon reporter Barbara Starr ripped Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his new “press policy” trying to force reporters to sign away their First Amendment rights.

Hegseth is requiring all Pentagon reporters to sign the policy by Tuesday at 5 p.m. or lose access to the building within 24 hours.

The policy’s wording bans reporters from asking for or obtaining any information that is not explicitly authorized. In other words, reporters are not allowed to use leaked information.

“News organizations across the political spectrum are refusing to sign,” Starr told Mediaite on Monday. “So, the message Mr. Hegseth should take from this is his deliberate insults and deliberate mischaracterization of how press corps operates will be met with a press corps that simply and exquisitely does its job. Freedom of the press remains unbowed.”

Starr, who reported on national security for two decades for CNN, posted to X:

Mr. Hegseth has responded with this lazy use of an emoji to several news organizations that issued statements they are not signing his new anti First Amendment press access policy.

Starr continued, “Darn ‘brave’ of him to blast social media on a day POTUS wants no diversion from Middle East peace news. Here’s the real news: journalism thrives and lives on. Rudeness and insults will clearly be met continuing to inform the American people where their troops are going and how their tax money is being spent.”

Starr’s post included a retweet of Hegseth’s “wave” to The New York Times, whose Washington Bureau Chief wrote, “Journalists from The New York Times will not sign the Pentagon’s revised press policy, which threatens to punish them for ordinary news gathering protected by the First Amendment.”

Other outlets refusing to sign the policy include The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and MAGA-friendly Newsmax, whose management told media reporter Erik Wemple it had “no plans to sign the letter.”

Hegseth hasn’t commented on the pushback.