Between June 21 and June 22, the Trump Administration launched Operation Midnight Hammer, attacking three major Iranian nuclear facilities and supporting Israel’s effort against the Islamic Republic.
The strikes triggered a mixed media response, leading to bias in several forms – including slant, negativity, and story choice.
As headlines continued to highlight the aftermath of the airstrikes, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called out some media outlets’ focus on claims that the strikes were not as effective as Trump asserted. “It’s like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad,” said Hegseth at a June 26 news conference. “You have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes. You have to hope maybe they weren’t effective.”
Hegseth called attention to, and refuted coverage from the left suggesting Operation Midnight Hammer did not “obliterate” Iran’s nuclear capacity as Trump claimed it did. Similarly, The Daily Wire (Right bias) called out a “Media Fail” as Iran’s foreign minister claimed that nuclear sites were “heavily and seriously damaged.”
Left Questions Efficacy of Strikes on Iran
Many outlets on the left reported on shortcomings of the strikes, focusing particularly on three key reports: a leak from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), reports of missing uranium, and a statement from the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- CNN (Lean Left) first reported, and other outlets, like The Huffington Post (Left bias), highlighted a leak from the DIA that claimed the US set back Iranian nuclear facilities by a few months at most.
- Other outlets emphasized one part of CNN’s report that claimed that enriched uranium had been removed from the facilities prior to US strikes. Slate (Left) wrote that “Iran’s Missing Uranium Stockpile Is a Big Problem for Trump,” and Associated Press (Left) reported that “material could be at undeclared sites in the country,” unbeknownst to the IAEA.
- More recent reports have focused on a June 29 statement from Rafael Grossi, head of the IAEA, who claimed that Iran could be enriching uranium again “in a matter of months.” Huffington Post (Left) framed Grossi’s statement as a contradiction of Trump’s claims of obliteration. NPR (Lean Left) referenced Trump’s claims when reporting on Grossi’s statement, presenting the President’s analysis of the damage in Iran as flawed. The Guardian (Lean Left) highlighted the differing narratives between Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who reported a “one to two year” setback of Iranian nuclear capabilities, and Grossi’s report.
Outlets from the Right Mostly Support Trump’s Narrative on Iran Strikes
Meanwhile, outlets on the right were more likely to support Trump’s narrative, although many acknowledged the IAEA report.
RealClear Politics (Lean Right) highlighted a statement from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who claimed that new intelligence showed it would take “years” for Iran to rebuild its facilities. It then discounted the previous Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, which the White House called “low-confidence.”
The New York Post (Lean Right) ran a headline emphasizing the efficacy of Operation Midnight Hammer: “Pentagon says Iran nuclear program set back ‘closer to 2 years’ after US strikes.” Fox News (Right), OANN (Right), and Newsmax (Right) all also emphasized the Pentagon’s statement.
Conversely, some outlets on the right acknowledged debate surrounding the efficacy of the attack. The Free Press (Lean Right) wrote in a headline, “Did Iran Just Sneak Out Critical Nuclear Material from Fordow?” and The Epoch Times (Lean Right) referenced both Trump and Grossi’s claims about the state of the nuclear facilities.
Right and Left Split on Trump’s Decision to Launch Strikes
While outlets on both sides of the spectrum debated the aftermath of Operation Midnight Hammer, several also focused on Trump’s initial decision to launch the mission.
Outlets on the left questioned the constitutionality of Trump’s military action. NPR (Lean Left bias) highlighted criticism from Democratic leaders, and Axios (Lean Left) reported on Senator Tim Kaine’s failed effort to limit Trump’s military authority.
Separately, Politico (Lean Left) criticized the wisdom of Trump’s decisions, noting that the ceasefire he brokered was tenuous and “teetered on the brink of collapse.”
Outlets on the right depicted the fight against Iran as reinforcement of American and Israeli security; for example, RealClearPolitics praised the Israeli operation. Meanwhile, outlets on the left, like Associated Press, tied the situation to the death toll of recent Israeli operations.
Meanwhile, outlets on the right sought to inform their audiences that Trump’s actions had delivered a blow to what many have described as a significant state sponsor of terror and a threat to national security.
The Washington Times (Lean Right) ran an article that displayed photo bias by featuring an image of Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei drawn to resemble a Satan figure, accompanying the following headline: “Iran’s terror legacy: Ayatollah’s regime still poses a deadly threat to U.S. and Israel.”
The New York Post (Lean Right) reported on a bipartisan bill in the House to arm Israel with “bunker-buster” bombs, quoting Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who called Iran “one of America’s top enemies.”
Similarly, Breitbart (Right) criticized those protesting US actions against Iran and supporting the Islamic Republic’s claim that it had repelled “US imperial ambitions.” The report called protestors in the United States “useful idiots.”
Throughout their reporting, outlets from the left emphasized potential shortcomings of the mission via slant and negativity. Meanwhile, slant and story choice biases displayed by some outlets on the right presented a successful attack on a dangerous foe.
Ian Rosenzweig is a Bias Research Assistant. He has a Center Bias.
This piece was edited and reviewed by Andy Gorel, News and Social Media Editor (Center bias), Johnathon Held, News & Bias Assistant (Lean Right bias), and Emily Allen, News and Social Media Editor (Left bias).
