Hegseth compares media critics to Pharisees

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has escalated his criticism of the media, comparing journalists who criticize President Donald Trump to the Pharisees, a Jewish sect in the first century that clashed with Jesus Christ. He made the remarks during a Pentagon press conference, framing media criticism as a form of religious opposition. This builds on his previous attacks labeling the media as 'unpatriotic' and 'Trump-hating'. The comments come amid ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and press outlets.