As the U.S. Department of Defense's new rules on interviews came into effect, reporters from at least 30 media outlets returned their interview credentials, cleared their work areas, and left the Pentagon on the 15th because they refused to sign informed documents on the new rules.

Refuse to sign the new regulation document

Many media reporters packed up and left

According to the new rules for interviews issued by the U.S. Department of Defense last month, reporters are not allowed to enter most areas of the Pentagon without the company of Department of Defense personnel; if a reporter asks anyone in the Department of Defense for any information released without the approval of the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Defense has the right to revoke the reporter's interview qualifications.

The Pentagon requires reporters to sign documents before 5 p.m. local time on the 14th to confirm their knowledge of the new rules. Otherwise, they will have to return the Pentagon's interview cards one day later and empty their office space in the building.

According to Reuters, at least 30 media reporters refused to sign informed documents, including not only media not liked by U.S. President Trump, such as the Associated Press and the New York Times, but also conservative media such as his high-profile Fox News channel.

On the afternoon of 15th, reporters transported cartons, office chairs, furniture, photos, maps, computers, copiers and other office equipment and personal belongings to the parking lot. After returning their credentials, about forty or fifty journalists left the Pentagon en masse. The Associated Press said that all media acted almost uniformly.

In response to journalists' resistance, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Panel responded on Friday that the new regulation established a "common sense media procedure" that required journalists to sign documents only to confirm that they understood the contents of the new regulation, and that the signature did not mean they agreed to the new regulation.

The Pentagon Press Association, which represents journalists resident in the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on the 15th that it was a dark day. The association said earlier that the Pentagon's new regulations "are aimed at suppressing press freedom, and may even lead to journalists facing prosecution for performing their journalistic duties normally".

U.S. Defense Minister systematically suppresses information dissemination

Trump: ¡°The media is very dishonest¡±

US Defense Secretary Hegseth was a former host of Fox News Channel. The Associated Press reported that Hegseth has systematically suppressed the dissemination of information since he became the defense chief. He himself has only held two official news briefings, and he had previously been caught in the "group chat door" leak storm and fallen into a war of words with the media. It is worth mentioning that Hegseth was the host of Fox News Channel.

On the 13th, Hagerseth forwarded the "visa refusal" statements of the Washington Post, The Atlantic and The New York Times on social media, and responded with the emoji of "waving goodbye".

When Trump answered a reporter's question on the 14th, he said that Hegseth had communicated with him on the new interview rules, and Hegseth believed that the media was "extremely destructive to world peace and even American security". Trump said: "The media is very dishonest."

According to Reuters, journalists holding Pentagon interviews were allowed to work in the non-secret area of the building and could contact a Defense Ministry spokesman at the Pentagon News Office in a corridor apart.

Stephen Losi, a reporter for the Defense News Weekly who reports Air Force news, said: ¡°We have never been allowed directly into the secret areas or offices of officials.¡±

Source of this article: CCTV News WeChat public account comprehensive CCTV Military