‘None Of You Knew’: Leavitt Tweaks Press Over How ‘Secretive’ Operation Midnight Hammer Was

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt jabbed at members of the press corps during a Thursday briefing as she touted the success of Operation Midnight Hammer.

Leavitt’s regularly-scheduled briefing came just hours after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted a news conference to clear up confusion surrounding the United States military’s strikes on Iranian Nuclear facilities — confusion that was due in large part to a CNN report based on a “preliminary” intelligence assessment.

Leavitt began by reiterating the points made by Hegseth during that news conference, saying that the intended targets — three major nuclear facilities in Iran — had been rendered inoperable after the strikes.

WATCH:

. @PressSec "The objective of OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER was to destroy the regime’s nuclear enrichment capacity and stop the grave nuclear threat posed to the United States, Israel, and the rest of the free world.

The mission was an OVERWHELMING SUCCESS!" pic.twitter.com/wMh627jl4b

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 26, 2025

“The objective of Operation Midnight Hammer was to destroy the regime’s nuclear enrichment capacity and stop the grave nuclear threat posed to the United States, Israel, and the rest of the free world,” Leavitt said. “The mission was an overwhelming success!”

The press secretary also praised the military for not only carrying out the mission successfully, but for doing so without anyone giving the game away.

WATCH:

. @PressSec "This was one of the most secretive and successful operations in United States history. I think many of you in this room would agree with that because

NONE OF YOU KNEW ABOUT THE STRIKE UNTIL IT TOOK PLACE!" pic.twitter.com/9kzeKOgNmk

— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 26, 2025

“This was one of the most secretive and successful operations in United States history. I think many of you in this room would agree with that because none of you knew about the strike until it took place,” Leavitt added.

The press secretary also called out CNN reporter Natasha Bertrand — who reported on the preliminary intelligence assessment that claimed the targets were not truly destroyed — reminding others in the room of Bertrand’s connection to legacy media attempts to cast doubt on the Hunter Biden laptop story.

WATCH:

????WOW — @PressSec absolutely obliterates this Fake News CNN reporter after she leaked false intelligence about the strikes.

The reporter in question? Natasha Bertrand — a repeat offender when it comes to pushing disinformation:

– Claimed the Hunter Biden laptop story was… pic.twitter.com/jFYWkqdyUx

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 26, 2025

“This is a reporter who has been … used by people who dislike Donald Trump in this government to push fake and false narratives. She should be ashamed of herself. That is not what reporting is. Journalists are trained to find the facts and the truth,” Leavitt said.