Criticism of media coverage of US casualties has long history
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the American press for emphasizing U.S. casualties in the Iran war, accusing them of wanting to make the president look bad, a stance echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
- The article highlights the long-standing tension in U.S. history between war coverage and public perception, noting how graphic images from Vietnam shifted American attitudes toward skepticism and how presidents have often sought to limit the visibility of war's human costs.
- Modern war reporting has become more restricted, with journalists often facing limitations on battlefield access, contrasting with earlier wars like Vietnam where media coverage was more direct and impactful.
- Coverage of military casualties predates the Trump administration, with many journalists emphasizing that reporting on fallen
