On April 21, 2025, Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh of Arizona, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, aligned himself with President Donald Trump in supporting Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Hamadeh spoke against unfounded news reports alleging unrest within the Department of Defense, suggesting that such reports might aim to undermine national security.
Congressman Hamadeh expressed his support on the social media platform X.com, stating, "As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have full confidence in @PeteHegseth and his team at DoD. The fake news had its sights on him since he was first nominated, yet he’s been moving positive changes at lightning speed."
Hamadeh, a staunch advocate of the First Amendment, urged news organizations to follow President Ronald Reagan’s principle of “trust but verify” before releasing information that could be based on dubious claims. He criticized the media for not adequately reporting the alleged legal oversight by the Biden Administration's Department of Defense, regarding the non-disclosure of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s incapacity to perform his duties.
Hamadeh also highlighted issues related to false news narratives, noting the negative impact on military morale. Despite rising recruitment numbers and improved troop morale attributed to Secretary Hegseth's leadership, Hamadeh questioned the intentions of those spreading misinformation. He commented on the broader debate on social media about permissible opinions and policy discussions, emphasizing his disapproval of censorship but recognizing the risks associated with misleading information.
“While some of us are sacrificing our time with our families and friends to tirelessly promote peace through strength,” Hamadeh said, “propagandists posing as journalists are trying to undermine our country by spreading lies.” Hamadeh's remarks underline concerns over the potential dangers of fake news and its implications for national security.
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