Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held a press briefing Thursday regarding Operation Epic Fury, the ongoing military operation against Iran that has now entered its 20th day. During the briefing, Hegseth defended the Pentagon's $200 billion funding request that has been submitted to the White House.

Hegseth used the press conference to criticize what he termed "ungrateful" European allies and described media coverage as "dishonest" in his remarks about the conflict. The Defense Secretary's comments come as the military operation continues into its third week.

The $200 billion funding request represents a significant financial commitment for the ongoing military operation. Hegseth argued that the funding is necessary to support current operations, though specific details about how the funds would be allocated were not immediately provided.

Separately, the nomination of an official named Mullin has advanced, though the briefing focused primarily on the military operation and funding matters. The press conference marked one of the most detailed public statements from Pentagon leadership since Operation Epic Fury began twenty days ago.