STORY: : Hegseth says the sooner David Ellison 'takes over' CNN, the better
:: Arlington, Virginia / March 13, 2026
:: Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary
"Or more fake news from CNN. Reports that the Trump administration underestimated the Iran War's impact on the Strait of Hormuz. Patently ridiculous, of course. For decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do, hold the strait hostage. CNN doesn't think we thought of that. It's a fundamentally unserious report. The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better."
"The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better," said Hegseth, a former Fox News show host and combat veteran, referring to Paramount's $110 billion deal to acquire CNN-parent Warner Bros.
On the war's 14th day, Hegseth criticized CNN's reporting on the impact of Iran's disruption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping passage, which has driven oil prices sharply higher and shaken the stock market. Reuters/Ipsos polling has shown little public support for the war, which Americans fear will drive gasoline prices higher.
On Thursday (March 12), CNN reported that the Pentagon and the White House's National Security Council significantly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the strait, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
"We stand by our reporting," a CNN spokesperson said. Representatives for Paramount had no comment.
