President Donald Trump hailed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth‘s Thursday morning news conference, in which the Pentagon head blasted the media for suggesting that recent U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities failed based on a leaked intelligence report.

“One of the greatest, most professional, and most ‘confirming’ News Conferences I have ever seen!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “The Fake News should fire everyone involved in this Witch Hunt, and apologize to our great warriors, and everyone else!”

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A report published by CNN and the New York Times suggested the United States military did not, in fact, destroy the Iranian nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Rather, Iran’s nuclear capabilities were only set back by a few months. The preliminary intelligence report contradicted the Trump administration’s messaging that Operation Midnight Hammer was successful.

During the news conference, Hegseth criticized the “fake news” media for its allegedly inaccurate reporting.

“It was preliminary, a day and a half after the actual strike, when it admits itself in writing that it requires weeks to accumulate the necessary data to make such an assessment, preliminary. It points out that it’s not been coordinated with the intelligence community at all,” Hegseth told reporters in the Defense Department’s briefing room. “There’s low confidence in this particular report. It says in the report, there are gaps in the information.”

“You cheer against Trump so hard, it’s like in your DNA and in your blood to cheer against Trump because you want him not to be successful so bad,” he said. “You have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes.”

The U.S. used B-2 bomber aircraft to attack the Iranian targets on Saturday. Trump claimed the operation was a success.

Days later, Trump said the B-2 bomber pilots were distressed by the reported intelligence leaks.

“These Patriots were very upset! After 36 hours of dangerously flying through Enemy Territory, they landed, they knew the Success was LEGENDARY, and then, two days later, they started reading Fake News by CNN and The Failing New York Times,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. “They felt terribly! Fortunately for them and, as usual, solely for the purpose of demeaning PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, the Fake News (Times and CNN) lied and totally misrepresented the Facts, none of which they had (because it was too soon, there were no Facts out there yet!). The News Conference will prove both interesting and irrefutable.”

Also on Wednesday, Hegseth announced the administration would launch an investigation into the intelligence leak.

“Take half-truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it, spin it in every way we can to try to cause doubt and manipulate the mind, the public mind, over whether or not our brave pilots were successful,” Hegseth said.

PETE HEGSETH EXCORIATES MEDIA FOR COVERAGE OF ASSESSMENT ON IRAN STRIKES

The Cabinet secretary reiterated that the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites were “historically successful,” as the attack prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities, as the president attempts to move the world closer to peace.

Trump is calling for CNN to fire journalist Natasha Bertrand for reporting on the nuclear facility intelligence earlier Wednesday. CNN defended Bertrand, suggesting she may not be fired despite pressure from the White House.